Nuclear Medicine Imaging

What Is Nuclear Medicine Imaging?

Nuclear medicine imaging is a method of photographing the blood flow to your heart and how well your heart is beating and functioning. The tests tell your doctor if there are heart problems due to temporary or permanent damage to the heart muscle. Your doctor will also be able to tell how well the walls of your heart are moving and how well your blood flows.

Preparing for Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Your doctor's office will give you specific instructions to follow prior to the test. Generally, they may tell you to avoid caffeine for 24 hours, not to take certain medications you may be on (your doctor will provide specific instructions) and not to eat or drink for several hours prior to your test. You should also bring a list of medicines which you take. Lastly, be sure to wear comfortable and loose fitting clothes. Before you are given the isotope, be sure to tell the technologist if you have allergies, if you think you might be pregnant, or if you are currently undergoing radiation therapy.

What happens during the Scan?

Nuclear Medicine Imaging creates a whole new angle in cardiology, allowing your patients to sit back in a comfortable reclining position throughout the scanning process. A relaxed patient provides several benefits which include; less patient motion, improved resolution, clearer studies, and generally a much more comfortable and pleasant experience. Nuclear medicine detects activity on a molecular level. The system works by detecting benign radiation emitted from a radioisotope given to a patient.

Once inside the patient, the radioisotope is attracted to a specific organ or area of the body. These areas absorb the radioisotope in quantities greater than those absorbed by surrounding tissues. The areas with decreased radioisotope demonstrate the areas of the heart that may potentially have dead tissue or receive less blood flow upon exertion. This enables the physician to determine whether or not a patient has cardiac disease and the potential extent of the disease.

Finding out the Results

The radiologist will study your examination and will give the report to your doctor. Then your doctor will discuss the results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health. Results cannot be given directly to the patient or family.