What is Nuclear Medicine?

The small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into the body by injection, inhalation, or swallowing depending on the exam. A gamma camera is then used to take the images. The amount of radiation received from a nuclear medicine procedure is comparable to that of a diagnostic x-ray.

Pregnancy or Nursing Precautions 

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please tell your physician. The nuclear medicine technologist and the Radiologist will need to be made aware if a patient is pregnant or nursing before beginning the procedure.

After your test

You may return to your normal diet and activities after your nuclear medicine exam has been completed. The Radiologist will interpret the exam and the results will be sent to the ordering physician. If you have questions about your procedure or cannot keep your appointment date/time, please call scheduling staff at 402-460-5884. There are many different nuclear medicine procedures. Listed below are some of the most commonly performed exams:

• Bone Scan
• Three Phase Bone Scan
• Gallbladder (HIDA)
• Gastric Emptying Study
• Lung Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q Scan)
• Thyroid Uptake and Scan
• Parathyroid
• Nuclear Medicine Stress Test

 

Bone Scan

Prep: There is no preparation required for this exam, However, if you have other exams scheduled on the same day, follow the prep needed for those exams.

Procedure:

• Injection will be given directly into a vein, via an IV site, or into a port.
• There are no reactions or side effects from the radioactive material.
• After injection, you will return for imaging after 3 hours. (i.e. If injection is at 10 a.m. the patient will need to be back at 1 p.m.)
• You will be able to leave the hospital between the injection and the imaging, and there are no restrictions during that time. However, we would like you to drink plenty of fluids during the break.
• Just prior to your imaging the nuclear medicine technologist will ask you to empty your bladder.
• You will lie on your back for the imaging with a camera above and below you.
• The table will move slowly allowing imaging from the head to toe, unless otherwise specified.
• Imaging takes approximately 30 minutes.

 

Three Phase Bone Scan

Prep: There is no preparation required for this exam. However, if you have other exams scheduled on the same day, follow the prep needed for those exams.

Procedure:

• Injection will be given directly into a vein, via an IV site, or into a port.
• There are no reactions or side effects from the radioactive material.
• Imaging will begin over the area of concern as the injection is given. This portion of the exam can take up to 30 minutes.
• After this portion, you will need to return 3 hours after the injection for further imaging.
• You will be able to leave the hospital between the injection and the imaging, and there are no restrictions during that time. However, we would like you to drink plenty of fluids during the break.
• Just prior to your imaging the nuclear medicine technologist will ask you to empty your bladder.
• You will lie on your back for the imaging with a camera above and below you.
• The table will move slowly allowing imaging from the head to toe, unless otherwise specified.
• Imaging takes approximately 30 minutes.
• Additional images may be taken over the area of concern. Each additional image takes 5 minutes.

 

Gallbladder (HIDA) Scan

Prep: You may not have any food, drink, tobacco products, or medications after midnight. Precaution: Please let the nuclear medicine technologist know if you are allergic to Morphine.

Procedure:

• An IV will be started in your arm for the injection of the radiopharmaceutical.
• There are no reactions or side effects to this material.
• You will lie on your back with the camera above you for imaging.
• Imaging will take about an hour and a half to two hours.

 

Gastric Emptying Study

Prep: Nothing by mouth after midnight. This includes food, drink, tobacco products, gum, and medications. 

Procedure:

• This test is done at different time increments.
• Upon your arrival a scrambled egg will be prepared with a small amount of radiopharmaceutical mixed in.
• You will be given the scrambled egg to eat.
• Immediately after eating the egg, the imaging will begin.
• You will lie on your back with the camera above and below your abdomen.
• Imaging will take 1 hour for this first portion of the test.
• You will have additional images done at 2 hours and at 4 hours. These images will be shorter than an hour.
• Example: Test starts at 9:00 a.m. Imaging from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Patient comes back at 11:00 a.m. for imaging and also 1:00 p.m.
• You MUST remain NPO (nothing by mouth) during the entire exam. Therefore, nothing to eat or drink, no tobacco products, medications, or gum during the break times.

 

Lung Ventilation and Perfusion (V/Q Scan)

Prep: There is no preparation for this exam, however if you have other exams scheduled on the same day, follow their preparation guidelines.

Procedure: This is usually a two part test:

Ventilation

• You will inhale a small amount of radioactive gas through a mouthpiece or mask.
• You will need to breathe through the mouthpiece with a clip on your nose, or through the mask that covers both your nose and mouth. The radioactive gas will clear from your lungs as you breathe.
• You will lie on your back with cameras above and below our chest.
• This portion of the test takes approximately 10 minutes.

Perfusion

• You will be given an injection into a vein or an IV started in your arm.
• Imaging will begin right away.
• You will lie on your back with the cameras above and below your chest.
• There are four sets of images with each set taking about 5 minutes a piece.
• The camera will reposition around the table for the different views.
• This portion of the test takes approximately 20 minutes.

 

Thyroid Uptake and Scan

Prep: There is no preparation for this exam, however if you have other exams scheduled on the same day, follow their preparation guidelines. Inform your physician if you are on any thyroid medications. Some thyroid medications need to be held before this exam can be performed. Also inform your physician or the nuclear medicine technologist if you have had a procedure involving x-ray contrast in the past 5 weeks. This includes CT scans and heart catheterizations.

Procedure: This exam is a two day procedure.

Day One

• You will be given a capsule to swallow that contains the iodine radiopharmaceutical.
• This part of the exam will take about 10 minutes.
• You have no restrictions following this portion.

Day Two

• The nuclear medicine technologist will have you sit in a chair and will take counts of your neck and leg for two minutes each.
• After the counts, you will lie on your back with the camera above your neck.
• Up to four images will be taken with the camera in different positions.
• This portion of the test takes approximately 40 minutes.

 

Parathyroid

Prep: There is no preparation for this exam. However if you have other exams scheduled on the same day, follow their preparation guidelines.

Procedure:

• You will be given an injection of the radiopharmaceutical directly into a vein or via an IV started in your arm.
• There will be a 15 minute wait before the first set of images.
• You will lie on your back with the camera above your neck for the imaging.
• There are two 5 minute images at this time.
• You will return two hours after your injection for the final set of images.
• You may leave the hospital during the break and there are no restrictions during that time.
• For the second set of images, you will again lie on your back with the camera above your neck.
• There are four 5 minute pictures during the second set of imaging and the camera will reposition around the table for different views.

 

Nuclear Medicine Stress Test

Prep: A cardiac nurse will try and contact you prior to the day of your study to go over the complete preparation. Do Not eat or drink after midnight. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, caffeinated beverages and chocolate after 4 pm the day before the exam.

Procedure: This is a two part test with a resting portion and a stress portion.

Resting Portion

• An injection of the radiopharmaceutical will be given through and IV started in your arm.
• There is a 1 hour wait time before your resting images.
• You will lie on your back with your arms above your head for the imaging.
• The camera will rotate around your chest taking images the whole time.
• These images take approximately 10-15 minutes.
• It is very important to hold still during the imaging.

Stress Portion

• The stress portion of the test will be done using a medication or with exercise on a treadmill
• Imaging will also be done following the stress portion.
• Imaging following the stress portion is the same as for the resting portion.