This technology helps to view the inside of the body to figure out the causes responsible for causing an illness or disease. And all of this is achieved without employing needless, invasive exploratory processes.

While there are many types of diagnostic imaging tests, this article specifically talks about the nuclear medicine scan and the most commonly asked questions. So, read along to find out the answers for them!

What Is a Nuclear Medicine Scan Used For?

This scan is generally recommended and helpful in accessing:

• A heart disease
• To check the functioning of the brain, kidney, lungs, and thyroid
• The location of the tumor and its progression before and after treatment.

How Does the Scan Work?

To begin; a small dose of radiopharmaceutical is injected. There is a waiting period of approx. 1.5 to 2.5 hours between the time of the injection and the scan, which can vary.

And with the help of a special camera, images of tissues, bones, and other organs of the body are taken.

Will I Be Radioactive After This Scan?

After a nuclear medicine scan, you will be radioactive. However, you should not be concerned because only trace amounts of radiotracers are used. Hence, you will not be radioactive the following day of the scan.

Will I Be Allergic to the Radioactive Material Utilized?

If you have a misconception about developing an allergic reaction after this scan, you must get over it. Radioactivity allergy is the least likely to occur.

And if it does happen, your doctor is available to help you out. However, the need of the hour is to inform the technologist performing the scan of any allergic reactions that you might have endured in the past.

Is This Scan Painful?

Almost every imaging examination is painless. The same is true for nuclear medicine procedures.

Apart from injecting the radioactive material that goes into the vein and might cause local pain for a few seconds, you are highly unlikely to receive any sort of other discomfort.

What If I Am Claustrophobic?

If you are claustrophobic, the technologist and radiologist performing the scan must be informed. The professional will advise you on anti-anxiety medication for the day.

However, if you take this medication, you should have someone with you to help you. The person escorting you will ensure that you reach home safely.

Can Anyone Undergo This Scan?

While this scan can be recommended to anyone, those breastfeeding will require taking extra caution. These women will essentially need to feed their babies immediately after the scan.

This is fundamentally due to the small amount of radioactivity that still exists in your body. Therefore, it may pass through the breast milk.

Any other guidelines will be communicated to you before and after the scan by the staff performing this examination. Make sure to pay strict heed to them.

Am I allowed to travel after my scan?

Yes, you can travel after the scan without any hesitation. But there will be a small amount of radiation in the body that can be detected at airports; ferry ports, train stations, and so on.

So if you have such plans, make sure to discuss them with the staff at the imaging centre. They will give you a card containing information about the examination.

Can I Be Around Pregnant Women or Children?

After this scan, you are safe to be around pregnant women or children. And as stated before, almost all of the radiation will disappear the following day, post this examination.

But at the same time, it’s better to ditch spending extended hours near small children and pregnant women. That means you should avoid sleeping with them.

Apart from this, you are empowered to carry on daily activities in the same way.

Can I Undergo This Examination If I Have Had Implants Before?

Such implants won’t create any kind of problem in this scan. But it should be within the knowledge of the staff performing this examination.

Can I Wear Jewelry on This Day?

You will be asked to remove your jewelry before this scan. Hence, it is better to leave them at your home.

And Lastly, Are There Side Effects to Nuclear Medicine Scans?

Apart from allergic reactions, which are also very rare, any other side effects of nuclear medicine scans are not known. If you realize anything of such sort, the safest bet is to get in touch with your doctor.

The professional will guide you on how to overcome the scenario of any adverse reaction.

Final Words

So, we tried to answer almost every question about nuclear medicine scans. And if you are recommended for this evaluation, prefer to take the services of an elite provider.

In other words; a label that is committed to serving its patrons in the best possible ways by employing the latest diagnostic tools! This will ensure that the authenticity of the reports cannot be questioned, eventually setting the path for a better diagnosis.

To make your search easy, Ontario Diagnostic Centres serving the residents of the Greater Toronto Area have you covered. The label has a team of renowned radiologists and technologists.

By connecting with them, you associate with a diagnostic centre that is recognized, reliable and that implements techniques complying with the standards of the Ministry of Health.

The post Most Frequently Asked Questions About a Nuclear Medicine Scan appeared first on Ontario Diagnostic Centers.

Several imaging examinations can emerge as your safest bet, with the Nuclear Medicine Scan being one of the popular ones. It has been recommended by doctors and performed by a team of professionals in the shape of technologists for about 50 years now.

Rest assured, the importance of these scans cannot be simply overlooked. They play a vital role in detecting the emergence of many diseases including the most deadly ones like cancer.

And if you are under this apprehension that a scan is not safe, this information is a complete fallacy. Experts have successfully employed this technique in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

In simpler words: the modality of a nuclear scan along with various other diagnostic services has indisputably emerged as a savior for so many patients out there.

Now Coming To The Heart Of The Topic, What Exactly Is A Nuclear Medicine Scan?

It is a scan that principally utilizes small amounts of radiation with the intent to generate pictures of tissues, bones, and organs inside the body. Be it for checking the functioning of the liver, bones or heart, a nuclear medicine scan is something that most doctors rely heavily upon.

For accomplishing this examination, a small dose of radiopharmaceutical is injected that collects in certain areas of the body. With the help of special cameras, many images are taken that help the medical team diagnose and treat cancer and a plethora of other illnesses.

Nuclear scans are also known by two other names: nuclear imaging and radionuclide imaging. So, the next time when your treating doctor is making use of these terms, remember they are essentially talking about a nuclear scan only.

How It Works And What To Expect

Most scans take around an hour or so. But you need to present early to the examination centre as healthcare workers prepare you for the imaging.

And as already stated before, small amounts of radiation are employed along with the use of a special camera to take the images of the inside! The patient will likely be asked to lie down on a scanning table and the camera will continue to take the pictures.

It is imperative to highlight here that before the scan you will be asked to remove all jewellery and metal that could interfere with the outcomes. So, it’s better to leave them back in your space. Additionally, the staff at the examination centre will also ask to wear a hospital gown. But is not a rule of thumb as in some cases you can continue with the test by wearing your clothes.

Technicians conducting this examination usually possess years of experience. In other words: you are in safe hands and need not worry at any point.

And as the camera is working, you might be asked to change positions to get images from different angles. The final report is prepared by a specialized doctor also known as a radiologist who further passes the information to the treating doctor.

Why Do You Need A Nuclear Medicine Scan?

A nuclear medicine scan can be extremely useful for cancer as they aid to show the prevalence of tumors and can readily track their spreading. This modality is also hailed to check how well the ongoing treatment is proceeding.

Apart from cancer, doctors make use of this scan to check for heart diseases, digestive illnesses, gland and hormone problems, and also several types of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) Will I Be Radioactive After The Scan Is Performed?

A) The short answer to this question is: yes. However, a nuclear medicine scan usually involves a small number of radiotracers and you will not be radioactive within a day.

Q) Will You Experience Any Side Effects After The Scan?

A) The probability of enduring any kind of side effects is usually quite rare. And even if you realize an adverse reaction, it will usually be mild and pass quickly. Additionally, there is no medical treatment required for the same.

Q) Are Nuclear Medicine Scans Safe?

A) Nuclear medicine scans have been employed by doctors for a very long time. They are very safe.

Q) Do These Scans Hurt?

A radioactive material needs to be injected into a vein that may cause local pain for about 5 seconds. Apart from this, nuclear imaging won’t result in any other kind of trouble for you.

Q) What If I Am Claustrophobic?

A) If you are claustrophobic, it should essentially be in the knowledge of the treating doctor, technologist and radiologist. You might be given anti-anxiety medication on the day of the examination.

Q) How Long Does The Complete Procedure Take?

A) The duration of the procedure varies. After booking the appointment, you can clarify from the scheduler.

To Conclude

If you have been advised of this scan, it is suggested to take the services from a reliable imaging centre. Someone, with a team of highly-experienced professionals who will assure accurate results!

To make your search easy, get connected with Ontario Diagnostic Centres. All our technologists are registered with CMRITO.

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