Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine is a ‘category’ of diagnostic testing that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to obtain images of functions within the body. It is used to diagnose or determine the severity of cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological and other conditions or abnormalities. Common nuclear medicine tests include bone scans (including SPECT), biliary scans, cardiac MUGAs and thyroid imaging.
PET (positron emission tomography) is a type of nuclear medicine exam. For more information about this test, visit our PET/CT section.
Preparation Instructions
- Gallbladder Nuclear Medicine Study (HIDA Scan)
Do not eat or drink anything for 6 hours before the exam. - Other Nuclear Medicine Studies
If special preparation is necessary, you will be issued instructions when you schedule your exam.
Please tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to be pregnant.
What to Expect
Prior to your exam, you will receive a special radiotracer, either through an injection, or an oral form (pill or inhaled gas). This is to give the radiotracer time to travel through your body and collect in the area under study. During the exam, you will lie within a camera or a scanner, which will either stay in one position or rotate around you, acquiring images. In some cases, the technologist will pass a hand held probe over your body to measure radioactivity. The length of the scan can range in time from 20 minutes to several hours.
