NUCLEAR MEDICINE

This test involves an injection of a radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) into a vein (usually in the arm) followed by some immediate pictures. You will then need to return between 2-4 hours later for some more images.

This scan looks at brain function by demonstrating the amount of blood taken up by the brain cells. It can show if some parts of the brain are working more than or less than normal. For this test, we will insert a cannula into a vein in your arm and then lie you in a dark room to rest completely for 30 minutes. During this time, we will give you an injection of a radiopharmaceutical in through this cannula which will highlight your brain for the camera. We then ask you to sit in the waiting room for a further 20 minutes to ensure all of our injection absorbs into the brain. Scanning is then commenced for 20 minutes.

This test can be used to determine the size and the shape of the liver and the spleen as well as for detecting functional abnormalities of the reticuloendothelial cells of these organs. This involves an injection of a radiopharmaceutical into a vein in your arm. Images are obtained 15 minutes later which generally take 30 minutes.

This test measures the movement of substances that enter and leave the colon over time. It evaluates disorders of colonic motility, ie. constipation.

You’ll be required to drink a small amount of radioactivity. We then image the bowel over the next 5 days. On Monday morning you will have the drink and then will return to the department 6 hours later for the first image. Thereafter, you will need to return each morning for a 10 minute image until Friday.

This test measures how well your heart is pumping.
The test involves an injection into a vein in the arm, then wait for 20 minutes and receive another injection and commence scanning immediately which is usually for approximately 25 minutes.

A gallium scan is used to look for inflammation, infection, or cancer in the body. This test requires an injection of radiopharmaceutical into a vein in the arm followed by images from 1 day to 7 days later, depending on the clinical indications

This test is used to localise the site of gastro-intestinal bleeding. This test involves removing some of your blood, labelling your blood so the camera can detect it, and then re-injecting your blood into your body so we can detect any abnormal bleeding.

This test is used to diagnose problems of the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts. It involves an injection of a radiopharmaceutical into a vein in your arm with continuous images for the next hour. The injection travels through your bloodstream to your liver, and is then excreted into the bile. The tracer then travels into the gallbladder. You will then receive an infusion of CCK (cholecystokinin – which is a natural hormone which stimulates gallbladder contraction). Further imaging is acquired over the next hour (during the CCK infusion) to assess emptying of the gallbladder.

This scan detects infection in bones, joints and soft tissue as well as inflammation due to other causes such as inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease). We will take some of your blood and label it with a radioactive substance so that the camera can detect it. Then we will re-inject the blood back into your body an hour later and wait 3 hours before imaging commences.

This test is used to locate the sentinel lymph node prior to breast cancer and melanoma surgery. It involves between 2-4 injections around the area of interest which contain particles which travel along the lymphatic channels and into the lymph nodes. Images are taken of the body in order to pinpoint the lymph nodes for your surgeon.

This test is used to diagnose suspected upper or lower extremity Lymphedema. A total of four injections are given to the hand or foot (two for each side) and imaging commences straight away to trace the lymphatic channels. We look at the rate of travel and for any blockages. The scan usually takes an hour though further imaging out to 3 hours may be required.

This study is used to look for the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa in the small bowel. If this condition exists it can cause pain in the abdomen and blood in the stool. You will receive an injection of a radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) into a vein in your arm and images will commence immediately.

This test is used to evaluate the blood supply (perfusion) to the heart. Imaging of the blood supply to your heart is acquired before and after a stress test. The stress test is either an exercise stress test on a treadmill, or if treadmill exercise cannot be achieved, a medication to mimic exercise will be used. In order to obtain images of the heart, an injection of a radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) is required into a vein in the arm.

This test attempts to determine whether or not there is an abnormal transit of solid and liquid through the oesophagus.

You’ll be required to stand upright against a camera and swallowing some water and small pieces of marshmallow labelled with a small amount of radioactive material.

The parathyroids are four small glands lying close to the surface of the thyroid gland in the front of your neck.

This test is used to look for enlarged or abnormally functioning parathyroid glands. It can assist the doctor to locate the abnormal gland. It is usually used in patients with elevated calcium levels due to a disorder called primary hyperparathyroidism.

You will receive an injection of a radiopharmaceutical into a vein in your arm and imaging of your neck will commence between 5-10 minutes afterwards, which will take 30 minutes. You are then required to return to the department 2-3 hours later for further imaging.

This scan is for patients who have had a mass in the liver detected on other imaging such as CT and/or ultrasound. This scan is helpful to diagnose conditions such as hemangioma.

You will receive an injection into a vein in the arm, then wait 20 minutes and receive another injection and imaging will commence immediately which will take approximately 25 minutes. You are then required to return to the department for further imaging approximately 3 hours later.

This scan is performed to look at the blood supply, function and excretion of urine from the kidneys. It will determine what percentage each kidney contributes to total kidney function and how well urine is excreted into the bladder.

You will receive a small cannula into the vein of your arm which stays in for the duration of the test. Through this a radiopharmaceutical is injected in order to highlight the kidneys for the camera. After 20 minutes of scanning, you may be given a second injection of Lasix (diuretic) which causes the kidneys to make more urine. We then image for a further 20 minutes.

This scan provides information about the function and the structure of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland consists of two lobes and is located in the lower part of the front of your neck. For this test, you will receive an injection of a radiopharmaceutical into a vein in your arm, and then wait for 20 minutes for the injection to absorb into the thyroid. Images will then commence which take around 20 minutes.

This scan is used to detect blood clots in the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). This test can also be used to determine the function of the lungs prior to surgery for emphysema.

This scan is carried out in two parts. For the first part, a radioactive material is breathed in and images are acquired straight after to look at the airflow to the lungs. For the second part, a radiopharmaceutical is injected into a vein in the arm and more images are acquired to look at the blood flow to the lungs.