Nuclear Medicine

A nuclear medicine image or scan involves the intravenous injection of a small amount of radioactive tracer.

Images are taken from several angles with a scintillation camera.

Since the radioactive drugs are very low concentration, reactions are virtually nonexistent and the radiation dose is approximately equal to that of a chest X-ray.

Preparation

Most nuclear exams require no preparation.

Length of Procedure

Most nuclear medicine studies require approximately 45 minutes to one hour of imaging time.

However, some procedures require additional time between injection of the tracer and the actual imaging.