Nuclear Medicine uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radiotracer to diagnose disease and other abnormalities within the body. Most procedures are noninvasive; radiotracer is injected in a vein or swallowed and then moves to the part of the body being examined where it gives off gamma rays that can be detected by CT scanners and probes. The result is an image showing details of the structure and function of specific organs and internal body parts.

Cancer
For some cancers there is a high risk for the bones to develop tumors as a result of metastatic disease. Nuclear imaging is done to determine if there are cancerous tumors in the bone which helps establish the stage of the cancer. Follow up nuclear medicine scans are then done to monitor effectiveness of cancer treatment. During breast surgery for cancerous tumor, nuclear medicine is used to find the sentinel node or (first node) and then that node is removed for examination of cancer cells in the lymph node. This helps stage the breast cancer.

Thyroid Imaging
24-hour I-123 Thyroid Uptake & Scan provide information about the structure and function of the thyroid, which is a gland in the neck that controls metabolism.

Parathyroid Imaging locates benign tumors prior to surgery for removal of parathyroid glands, which are four small glands in the neck behind the thyroid and controls the amount of calcium in your body.

Gastroenterology Scanning
HIDA (hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid) Scan, also commonly called cholescintigraphy, and PIPIDA Scan, provide information about the function of the gallbladder and associated bile ducts. The gallbladder aides in digestion.

Gastric Emptying Scan (GES) is an X-ray procedure that identifies abnormalities related to emptying the stomach.

GI (gastrointestinal) Bleeding Study discovers bleeding in the digestive, or gastrointestinal, tract and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine or colon, rectum and anus.

Meckle’s Diverticulum Scan detects a small bulge in the small intestine. This congenital defect is present at birth and the most frequent malformation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Kidney Imaging
Renal Scan evaluates the size, position, shape and function of the kidneys. Kidneys filter and clean the blood to produce urine. Procedures are often done after kidney transplants; abnormalities can indicate reduced kidney function.

Lasix Renal Scan records how the kidneys, ureters and bladder work together.

Cardiac Imaging
Thallium/Myoview Stress Test views the blood flow to the heart, allowing cardiologists to see where obstruction and narrowing of the arteries is occurring.

MUGA (Multiple Gated Acquisition) Scan produces a moving image of the beating heart and permits the cardiologist to determine the health of the cardiac ventricles, which pump blood through the heart and lungs.

Lymph Node
Sentinal Lymph Node Injection is a diagnostic tool used for lymph node mapping in patients with breast cancer. It can be an alternative to axillary dissection (surgical procedure) for patients.

Pulmonary
Lung Ventilation/Perfusion Scan measures breathing and circulation in all areas of the lungs, which helps physicians evaluate lung function for patients with advanced pulmonary diseases.