Before a nuclear imaging scan or therapy, you take a radioactive (radiotracer) substance by mouth, injection or inhaled gas. Your body deposits the substance in areas of high molecular activity. For example, cancer cells use more energy and attract more radiotracer.

A special camera detects concentrations of the radiotracer, and a computer assembles this information in a sophisticated format.

There are many benefits to nuclear medicine and PET scans, such as: 

• Detecting diseases sooner than they might appear on a CT or MRI scan

• Scanning the entire body for cancer in a single examination and showing the extent of disease, such as whether it has spread to other organs

• Determining whether a tumor is benign or malignant, avoiding the need for surgery

• Monitoring treatment response in ways that are not possible with other imaging modalities 

Before your test or procedure, we give you the radiotracer, which takes time to travel through your body and accumulate. We may perform the procedure immediately, in a few hours or days later.

Some additional information to help you prepare:

• Clothing: Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. We may give you a hospital gown to wear during the procedure.

• Documents to bring with you: Please bring a photo ID (such as your driver’s license or state ID), insurance card and a completed medical record. 

• Medication: Take your medication as you usually would unless our team tells you otherwise.

• Jewelry and other metallic items: You cannot have metallic items near nuclear medicine equipment. We provide a place to store these items safely, or you can leave them at home. 

You may benefit from a nuclear medicine scan if you are experiencing symptoms of certain medical conditions. We use nuclear medicine therapy for hormone conditions, cancers and blood disorders.

We use nuclear imaging scans to: 

• Analyze kidney or thyroid function

• Check for inflammation in your gallbladder

• Determine stroke type (hemorrhagic or ischemic) and location 

• Find bleeding in your bowel

• Investigate diseased brain tissue that may be causing seizures or memory loss

• Look at blood flow to your heart 

• Pinpoint the source of an infection

Nuclear medicine destroys abnormal cells throughout your body, making it a safe alternative to radiation therapy.

Therapy may involve: 

• Radioactive iodine for an overactive thyroid gland or thyroid cancer

• Radioactive antibodies for lymphomas

• Radioactive phosphorus for blood disorders

• Radioactive materials for tumors that spread to your bones