Instructions for preparing for nuclear medical exams will be given to the patient at the time of scheduling. Some exams require patients not to take their medications, to fast, or to hydrate themselves before their exam.

Authorizations are generally required by insurance companies.

Thyroid

• Thyroid Uptake and Scan: Initial appointment, return 6 hours later, return 24 hours later for a one-hour appointment. May require prep.
• Thyroid Therapy: Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease). May require prep.
• Thyroid Ablation: Thyroid cancer. May require prep.

Bone Scanning

• Requires patient to drink 5-6 8 oz. glasses of water between injection and delayed imaging.
• Whole Body: Usually for metastatic disease, diffuse bone abnormalities. Initial appointment, injection; return in 3 hours for a one-hour scan.
• Triple Phase Bone Scan: Flow, blood pool, delayed bone imaging of a single boney site. Performed for extremities and hips for avascular necrosis, osteomyelitis, cellulites, RSD, or other pain syndromes, or extremity pain. Initial appointment, injection, 20 min. (for initial scan); return in 3 hours for delayed images. Allow 30-40 min. for delayed scanning.
• Ltd Bone Scan: For one specific body part; i.e., hands or feet. Initial appointment, injection; return in 3 hours for delayed images. Allow 30-40 minutes for scanning.
• Multi-Bone Scan: Same as above only scanning is done on more than one part of the body; i.e., lumbar spine and knee.
• SPECT Scan: Initial appointment, injection; return in 3 hours for delayed imaging.
  Allow 2 hours for scanning.

Gallium Scans

• Initial appointment is for injection. Patient return 48-72 hours later for delayed imaging; allow 2 hours. Indications for Ga67 include tumor localization or inflammatory disease. No prep.
• Indium 111 White Cell Study
  Indications are inflammatory disease. Initial appointment for IV blood draw;
  return in 4-5 hours for reinjection of tagged white cells, then return 24 hours later for a 1-2 hour scan. No prep. MUST HAVE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION FROM INSURANCE COMPANY.
• Liver, Spleen, Biliary and Gallbladder Scan to include Ejection Fraction, RBC Liver SPECT for Hemangioma
  Requires different preps and scan times. Details will be given when scheduling the patient. May require fasting.
• Muga Scan
  Gated cardiac wall motion. No prep. Allow approx. 2 hours.
• Meckels Scan
  Requires patient prep-medication and fasting. Allow appox. 1.5 hours or more for scanning.
• Blood Pool Studies
  No prep. Allow 2 hours for study.
• Gastric Emptying
  Patient will be asked to bring a specific meal to eat after fasting prep. Allow 2 hours for appointment.

Exam Day:

• Please arrive early on the day of the exam, to complete the registration process. When it is time for your exam, the technologist will escort you to the exam room. The technologist will ask you why you are having the test done, and then explain the testing procedure and answer any questions you may have.
• Isotopes are given by injection, orally, or by inhalation. If your exam requires you to come back at a later time, you will be instructed to do so. If your exam requires scans to begin immediately, you will be placed on a table or asked to sit in front of a scanner.
• Please note: Acquiring the Nuclear Medicine images takes time, and it is very important that you remain still while images are being obtained. This can take from 5 minutes up to an hour.
• During the exam, the scanner may move around you. When the exam is completed, the technologist will assist you off the table and you will be allowed to leave.

The results of your exam will be forwarded to your physician, who will explain them to you.

The amount of isotopes given is small, and is equivalent in most cases to naturally occurring levels and are passed out of the body very quickly. You are advised to drink plenty of water after the exam.

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding are not candidates for this exam.