- Interactive Tutorial: Nuclear Scan
- What you need to know about your nuclear imaging test
- Radiologyinfo.org
- Medline Plus: Nuclear Scans
Nuclear Medicine
Vancouver Radiologists now offers Nuclear Medicine
Welcome to Vancouver Radiologists, P.C., a regional leader in providing
high quality medical imaging services in Clark County. We are excited
to be providing superb Nuclear Medicine service at our office in a serene
and comfortable outpatient setting.
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a medical specialty that is used to diagnose and treat diseases in a safe and painless way. Nuclear medicine procedures permit the determination of medical information that may otherwise be unavailable, require surgery, or necessitate more expensive and invasive diagnostic tests. The procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease – long before some medical problems are apparent with other diagnostic tests. This early detection allows a disease to be treated sooner in its course when a more successful prognosis may be possible.
What happens during a Nuclear Medicine Procedure?
Nuclear medicine tests (also known as scans, examinations, or procedures) are safe and painless. In a nuclear medicine test, small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into the body by injection, swallowing or inhalation. Radiopharmaceuticals are substances that are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues. The amount of radiopharmaceuticals used is carefully selected to provide the least amount of radiation exposure to the patient but ensure an accurate test. A specific camera is then used to take pictures of your body. The camera detects the radiopharmaceuticals in the organ, bone or tissue and forms images that provide data and information about the area in question.
Preparing for a Nuclear Medicine procedure
- Please arrive 15 minutes early, you will be asked to fill out medical history forms
- Upon arrival you will be greeted by our receptionist and introduced to our staff
- Your medical history will be reviewed by our Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist who will explain the procedure and answer your questions.
- Please let us know
if there is any chance that you may be pregnant.
For more information on this topic, please visit www.Radiologyinfo.org.
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