Nuclear Medicine
scanning tests use a special camera to take pictures
of certain tissues in the body after a radioactive
tracer (radionuclide or radioisotope) is given to
the patient. The tracer accumulates in the tissues,
making them visible on the camera. Different type
of tissue may be scanned using a different radioactive
compound as a tracer.
Bone Scan- The radioactive tracer substance is injected into a vein in the arm. A special camera then takes pictures of the tracer in the bones. This helps show cell activity and function in the bones. The technique is most commonly used in the detection of metastases in cancer patients.
Cardiac Perfusion Scan- A cardiac perfusion scan measures the amount of blood in the heart muscle at rest and during exercise. It may be done after a heart attack to see if areas of the heart are not getting enough blood or to find out how much heart muscle has been damaged from the heart attack.
Renal Scan- Assess Renal and Urinary tract Disorders.
Biliary Scan- Examination of the intra and extrahepatic bile ducts and the Gall Bladder.
Thyroid Scan- A thyroid scan can show the size, shape, and location of the thyroid gland. It can also find areas of the thyroid gland that are over or under active. The test is commonly ordered in patients presenting with thyroid swellings.
Lung Scan- A lung scan is most commonly used to detect a blood clot that is preventing normal blood flow to part of a lung (pulmonary embolism).
Gastro Intestinal Bleed Scan- to localize and find out the cause of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
White Blood Cell Scan- Identify the presence, site and severity of focal infection.
