Advanced Imaging for Precise Results
Diagnostic imaging tests, like nuclear medicine, allow us to better understand the cause of your symptoms and tailor your treatments. At AdventHealth Riverview, our experienced radiology team offers comprehensive nuclear medicine services to find answers you can trust.
Our expert, skilled team is committed to answering your questions, calming your nerves and staying up-to-date with the latest advances in nuclear medicine so we can care for you in body, mind and spirit.
Accurate Answers for Clear Diagnoses
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Q:Question: What is nuclear medicine?
A:Answer:A specialized area of radiology, nuclear medicine uses a small amount of radioactive material (given either orally or intravenously) to examine your organs' structure and metabolic function.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerNuclear medicine gauges the function of your organs and tissues, whereas diagnostic imaging usually only assesses the appearance of your organs and tissues.
Nuclear medicine testing can answer many questions about what’s going on inside your body, including:
- Evaluate the spread of cancer
- Identify blood clots in the lungs
- Locate infection
- Scan organs for abnormalities
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Q:Question: What types of nuclear medicine scans are available?
A:Answer:At AdventHealth Riverview, we offer a range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging tests, including:
Continue ReadingCollapse Answer- Brain scans
- Heart scans
- Red cell mass studies
- Renal scans
- Thyroid uptake scans
- Tumor imaging
- Whole-body bone scans
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Q:Question: What should I expect during a nuclear medicine scan?
A:Answer:Your doctor will provide specific instructions for your scan, but generally no preparation is necessary. However, you may be unable to eat or drink about six hours before your test.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerOn your scheduled test day, please leave jewelry and valuables at home. You'll be given the radioactive material either orally or intravenously, and you'll then lie under a gamma camera that will take a series of pictures. Your radiologist will use these images to assess the function of your organs or soft tissue before sending the results to your physician.
The test takes about an hour, but some scans may require more time.