mybonsecours
nuclear medicine
Nuclear medicine scans use a camera to take pictures of certain tissues and organ in the body after a radioactive tracer is administered to the patient. This tracer is absorbed into the patient's tissues where it can be tracked to show the activity and function of specified tissues and organs.
Each type of tissue that may be scanned (including bones, organs, glands, and blood vessels) requires a different radioactive tracer. The tracer remains in the body temporarily before it is eliminated as waste. The radiation dose is very small and not associated with any measurable risk; only enough is used to make tissues visible on the scanning pictures.
Preparing for a Nuclear Medicine Exam
Each nuclear medicine procedure has a different set of prep instructions and requirements. It is likely that you will be advised not to consume food or drink for at least four hours prior to your appointment. If you are having a kidney function test plan to drink plenty of water before the procedure.
