Nuclear imaging

Nuclear imaging is a method of producing images by detecting radiation from different parts of the body after the administration of a radioactive tracer material. Radioactive tracers are not dyes. They have no side effects. The amount of radiation a patient receives in a typical nuclear imaging scan is very low, similar to the exposure received in a routine chest X-ray. In most cases the tracers are injected into a vein. In some cases they may be given by mouth.

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During the test or "scan," you lie on a table while a special "gamma" camera takes a series of pictures. A computer connected to the camera detects the radiation from the body organ being examined and forms a series of images. These images are interpreted by a nuclear medicine physician who searches for abnormal organ function or disease and then makes a diagnosis.

The amount of time nuclear imaging takes depends on the type of test. Most studies take about one hour or more. Some require more than one visit.

In our section on nuclear imaging you will find:

• Multigated acquisition scan (MUGA scan, nuclear ventriculogram, radionuclide scan)
• Thallium exercise stress test (stress thallium test, perfusion scan)
• Positron emission tomography (PET or cardiac viability study)
• Sestamibi exercise stress test (sestamibi stress test, stress perfusion scan, stress sestamibi)