Nuclear Medicine

• Radioactive tracers are NOT dyes that are typically used in X-ray or CAT scan.
• Radioactive tracers look and feel just like water. They are in such small amounts that they leave the body shortly after your test is complete.
• Radioactive tracers will not make you feel any different than when you got up this morning, they will not affect your ability to drive or perform your normal activities.
• The tracers can either be given by IV (going directly into your blood stream) or oral (by swallowing a capsule).

**SCAN TIMES IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE ARE TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL AND MAY BE ALTERED TO MEET YOUR PARTICULAR NEEDS**

• Please wear normal attire when having a NUCLEAR MEDICINE scan.
• Claustrophobia is not associated with NUCLEAR MEDICINE. It is not a tube or a tunnel. It is performed with an open and airy machine called a CAMERA.
• You will be asked your weight to determine the amount of tracer needed for your scan.

Bone Scan (BONE SCANS ARE NOT THE SAME AS BONE DENSITOMETRY)

All Bone Scans involve two visits, done approximately three hours apart.

• You can eat and drink as usual, prior to this exam
• Between the visits, you will need to drink 6 large glasses of water

1st visit: You will receive an injection. This takes about 5 minutes.
2nd visit: Approximately 3 hours later, you will have your scan. This takes anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.

Which bone scan are you having?

• Whole body is for people with a history of cancer.
• Limited scan is for a smaller area of the body.
• Three phase scan is when an infection is suspected.

Breast Lymph Node Scan (SLN - Sentinel Lymph Node Localization)

• This procedure is coordinated with WGH Ambulatory Surgery Department and the surgeon’s office.
• All scans take about 60 to 90 minutes
• This scan is in preparation for lymph node removal in surgery
• An anesthetic mixed with radioactive tracer is injected under the nipple.
• You will massage your breast for several minute
• The scan takes about 90 minutes
• You will be returned to the surgery department

Gastric Studies (Gastric Emptying and Gastroesophageal Reflux Scans)

• Please do not eat or drink for 8 hours prior to scan
• You may bring a Walkman or portable CD player with you
• This scan takes about 90 minutes

You will be given oatmeal with a small amount of radioactive tracer in it. The tracer will allow us to see the food in the stomach. You will then lie down on your back with a pillow under your head and knees. After the study is completed, you are free to go.

HIDA Scan(Gall Bladder/Hepatobiliary Scans)

• Please do not eat or drink for 4 hours prior to scan
• You may bring a Walkman or portable CD player with you
• This scan takes about 90 minutes.

You will have an IV placed and a tracer (HIDA) will be injected. You will lie on your back with a pillow under your head and knees. After 40 minutes, you will receive an enzyme to aid in digestion (CCK). This may cause a flushing/nauseating sensation that lasts about 90 seconds. (Some people may receive a very small dose of morphine to help show the gall bladder.) After the study is complete the IV is removed, and you are free to go.

Liver/Spleen Scans (Rarely ordered-confirm your order with your physician)

• You can eat and drink as usual, prior to this scan
• This scan takes about 60 minutes
• You will receive an injection of tracer
• After a 30 minute wait, you will be scanned for 30 minutes.

Lung Scans (Lung V/Q Scan, Ventilation/Perfusion Scan)

• You need to have had a chest X-ray within 24 hours, or have one ordered for this scan
• This scan takes about 60 minutes

Part 1: You will breathe a special oxygen mix with small amounts of radioactive tracer

Part 2: You will have an injection of a radioactive tracer

Myocardial Perfusion Scan (MPS) (MPS, Cardiolite Treadmill, Persantine Cardiolite, Adenosine Cardiolite, Thallium Treadmill)

All MPS scans require two visits, done one day apart

• Please do not have any caffeine products (low or decaffeinated coffees or teas), no alcohol nor tobacco, within 24 hours prior to these scans

Day 1:

• You may eat a light breakfast of juice and toast 6 hours before start time of your study (If you are diabetic, eat a regular meal 2 hours before start time)
• Drink plenty of fluids before coming in
• You will be exercising on a treadmill, so wear comfortable clothing (shirt with buttons down the front or loose T-shirt, for ease of placing electrodes, sports bra or non-underwire bra for women, shorts or sweatpants and comfortable shoes to run/exercise in)
• You will have an IV started and EKG wires attached to your chest.
• You will begin exercising on a treadmill (or be given a drug). After the exercise portion is complete, you will go to the Nuclear Medicine room for the stress scan of your heart
• You will be given the time for the next day’s scan
• This visit takes about 2 hours
• Continue to avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco

Day 2:

• Continue to avoid caffeine, alcohol and tobacco
• You will be given an injection, and asked to wait for 30 minutes
• You will then have the rest portion of the scan
• This visit takes about 1 hour

MUGA Scan (Gated Blood pool, Gated Heart, RBC Heart Scan)

This scan takes about 90 minutes
This is a 3 part exam, you will have a wait time of about 30 minutes between each scan
You will have 3 heart leads placed on your chest to detect your heartbeat.

1st part: You will have an IV placed (blood may need to be drawn) and a pre-tracer solution injected

2nd part: This is about 30 minutes later

3rd part: Again, 30 minutes later than the second part
A series of three pictures will be taken and they take about 45 minutes, depending on your heart rate.

Parathyroid Scan
All Parathyroid Scans involve two visits, 2 hours apart
1st visit: You will be injected with a radioactive tracer and scanned for about 30 minutes
2nd visit: This is approximately 2 hours later and this scan takes about 30 minutes, also
Tagged RBC Scan (Hemangioma Liver Scan, Labeled RBC Scan, GI Blood Loss Scan)

This scan can take up to 90 minutes
This is a 3 part exam, you will have a wait time of about 30 minutes between each scan

1st part: You will have an IV placed (blood may need to be drawn) and a pre-tracer solution injected
2nd part: This is about 30 minutes later
3rd part: Again, 30 minutes later than the second part

Renal Scan (Renogram, Renal Flow and Function Scan)

• All Renal scans will take 40 to 90 minutes
• Please drink 4 glasses of water before your test
• If you are having a Captopril Renogram, you can not have taken ACE inhibitors 48 hours prior to your scan

You will have an IV placed and a radioactive tracer injected
If a dose of Lasix or Captopril is given, the Radiology nurse will monitor your blood pressure

Thyroid Scan with uptake Uptake and Scan)

All Thyroid Scans require 3 visits. The first two visits on day one, the third visit day two.

• You can not have taken thyroid medications for 6 weeks
• You can not have had an x-ray or CT dye study for 6 weeks
• You can not have taken kelp or iodine supplements for 6 weeks

1st visit: You will be given 1-3 small capsules to swallow.
2nd visit: After 4 hours, you will have your first scan. This takes 30 minutes.
3rd visit: The second scan is 24 hours after the pills are swallowed. This takes about 20 minutes.