Nuclear Imaging
Questions and Answers
• What is nuclear imaging?
• How is nuclear imaging different from
X-Ray for CT?
• How does it work?
• My doctor referred to a SPECT exam.
What is that?
• What kinds of exams are performed with
nuclear imaging?
• How long will my exam take?
• Will the exam hurt? How soon can I resume
normal activity?
• Will I be alone?
• Do I have to do anything special to
prepare for my exam?
• Who interprets my results?
What is nuclear imaging?
Nuclear imaging allows us to visualize how a part of the body is functioning at the metabolic level. Consequently, nuclear imaging sometimes can give us more detailed diagnostic information than provided by anatomic (or structural) imaging, like CT. It is a non-invasive procedure, meaning there are no incisions or equipment entering your body.
How is nuclear imaging different from X-Ray for CT?
X-Ray and CT pass radiation through your body to help evaluate the differences in tissue density, thereby producing images that capture anatomical, or structural, information. Nuclear imaging captures actual metabolic activity within the organ or part of the body to be studied.
How does it work?
A radioactive tracer is injected into your body, and the SKYLight system, or gamma camera as it is sometimes called, traces the distribution of the tracer through the part of the body to be studied. The radioactive isotope decays, resulting in the emission of gamma rays. These gamma rays are processed by the SKYLight system into images on a monitor. The images give details about what's happening inside that part of the body, and allow doctors to map areas that may need additional scrutiny.
After careful evaluation of the report, your doctor can then recommend treatment options or regimens, in some cases eliminating the need for more invasive tests or procedures.
My doctor referred to a SPECT exam. What is that?
SPECT-Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography — is a type of nuclear imaging that allows the doctor to see activity within structures deep inside the body. SPECT is particularly effective for cardiology, brain, and some orthopedic and oncology applications. It generates 3D images whereas non-SPECT, or planar imaging, consists of 2D snapshots or moving images of physiology.
What kinds of exams are performed with nuclear imaging?
Cardiology — identifying segments of the heart and blood vessels with decreased or insufficient blood flow. Nuclear imaging can show the viability of the heart muscle and assist in evaluating the cause of acute pain to better determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack.
Oncology — supporting the diagnosis of cancer and staging for cancer treatment or evaluating a patient's response to treatment.
Pulmonary — imaging the lungs to look for or evaluate respiratory and blood-flow function.
Gastrointestinal — identifying blockages, assessment of liver function and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Thyroid — detecting an overactive or under active thyroid, thyroid nodules or to assist in therapy planning for thyroid disorders.
Orthopedics — evaluating metastatic disease or bone pain in cancer patients. Nuclear imaging can also be used to identify fractures. A special procedure called 3-phase scanning can identify osteomyelitis (an inflammatory disease) and stress fractures.
Brain function — SPECT is an emerging technique for the study of brain function related to mental illness, aberrant behavior and to assess blood flow.
How long will my exam take?
Depending on what type of exam is scheduled, the patient can spend anywhere from 30 minutes up to approximately three hours in the nuclear imaging department. Actual imaging time can range from 15 minutes to approximately one hour. Ask your doctor how long your procedure will take.
Will the exam hurt? How soon can I resume normal activity?
There should be very little discomfort if any during your exam. There may be minor, very temporary discomfort associated with the injection of the tracer. Exams are non-invasive and you should be able to resume normal activity immediately afterward.
Will I be alone?
No. You will be able to see and speak with your technologist.
Do I have to do anything special to prepare for my exam?
Sometimes there are dietary restrictions, such as refraining from beverages, caffeine and non-caffeine, for 12 hours prior to the test. When the exam is scheduled, instructions will be provided if you are taking medications.
Depending on the type of study, fasting may be required. For diabetic patients, your exam should be scheduled two to four hours after breakfast or at the advice of your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, diabetic, or have any allergies prior to the exam. And, ask your doctor for more specific instructions prior to your exam.
Who interprets my results?
A physician with specialized training in nuclear medicine usually interprets the images and forwards a report to your physician.
- June 2007
The content on this site is intended to be used for educational purposes only ...
