Nuclear Medicine / SPECT
Nuclear medicine uses a safe and painless amount of radioactive tracer called Technetium, which is injected into a vein or swallowed depending on the procedure. This tracer accumulates in the area of the body being examined where it gives off gamma rays which can then be detected by the gamma camera.
It is used to detect a variety of diseases including many types of cancers, heart disease, stress fractures, and bone or joint pain. Nuclear medicine provides functional and structural information for many organs of the body. It can provide very early detection of many diseases allowing for better treatment and more successful prognosis.
At Norwest Medical Imaging we have the latest GE Hawkeye technology. This technology combines the nuclear medicine gamma camera along with a very low dose CT scan. This further increases accuracy and precision of the diagnosis. This dual function machine acquires all the information at one time and is called Single Photon Emision Computed Tomography - SPECT.
Some of the organs / functions that can be assessed with Nuclear Medicine / SPECT include:
- Kidney function
- Heart blood flow and function ( Myocardial perfusion scan)
- Gall Bladder inflammation
- Bones for fractures, infection, arthritis and tumours
- Presence or spread of cancer in various parts of the body
- Bleeding into bowel
- Presence of infection
- Thyroid function
- Brain abnormalities such as seizures and memory loss
- Localization of lymph nodes before surgery in patients with Breast Cancer or melanoma
Preparation
You must have a referral from a medical practitioner.
You will receive specific instructions for the procedure you are having at the time of making your booking. Some examinations do require fasting and some may require ceasing medication.
As the test involves a radioactive injection, please advise the technician or physician if you are pregnant prior to your examination or if you are breast feeding.
Scanning
Scanning will vary depending on the examination being performed. With some scans the istope or injection is taken up very quickly, so the scan will take approximately 30 minutes. For other examinations you may need to return for a second scan after 2-3 hours. Our reception staff will advise you at the time of booking how long your specific examination will take.
