Nuclear Medicine is a specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of radioactive materials, or “tracers,” to examine organ function and structure. Nuclear Medicine procedures provide information early in the disease process. In nuclear imaging procedures, the amount of tracer (radioactive material) used is extremely small, so radiation exposure is minimal—the amount of radiation in most nuclear medicine procedures is comparable to that received during a CT scan.

A nuclear medicine scan consists of three phases: Tracer (Radioactive Material) administration, taking images, and image interpretation. The amount of time between administration of the tracer and the taking of the images may range from a few moments to a few days, depending on the body tissue being examined and the tracer being used. The time required to obtain the images may also vary from minutes to hours.

Your physician provides instructions describing how to prepare for your procedure. If you are taking medication, ask your physician if you should take them before your procedure. On the day of the exam wear loose, comfortable clothing, avoiding garments that have buttons made of metal. Note: Women should always inform their physician or nuclear medicine technologist if there is a possibility they are pregnant or breast-feeding.

A radiologist, a physician specially trained to diagnose conditions and diseases by obtaining and interpreting medical images, interprets the results of your exam. The radiologist sends an interpretation of your results and a signed report to your primary care physician. Your doctor discusses these results with you and explains what they mean in relation to your health.

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