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Nuclear Medicine
At St Vincent’s Clinic, our Nuclear Medicine department is integrated with Medical Imaging. We perform a wide range of specialised examinations in an environment designed for comfort.
Preparation
- Appointments are required for all Nuclear Medicine scans
- Please advise us if you are, or may be pregnant
- Wear comfortable clothing - avoid clothes with metal attachments such as heavy zippers and large metal buttons
- Remember to bring your referral, Medicare and Pension/Health Care cards with any previous imaging relating to the region being scanned. If you do not have previous imaging, please advise us with the name of the imaging provider, so that we may attempt to access them electronically
- You are not required to bring previous imaging if it has been performed at St Vincent’s Clinic Medical Imaging & Nuclear Medicine
- Any examination specific preparation will be advised at the time of booking your appointment.
Your Results
When you first register with us, you will be invited to access SVCMI Patient, our patient app that enables our patients to securely access their images and reports.
See here for more information.
At the completion of your examination, you do not need to wait for images. You will receive the images into your SVCMI Patient app, approximately one hour after your scan is completed, and the report 4-6 days later. Your referring doctor will receive your results as soon as the report is finalised by our radiologist.
We recommend that you always return to your referring physician to discuss your results.
To download the app, go to your app store and select SVCMI Patient.
For the desktop version click here.
What to Expect
You may be asked to change into a gown and remove jewellery, as some objects can obstruct the area of interest. Nuclear Medicine scans vary in the preparation required and the length of the examination. Please select an individual study below, for more information.
Heart
Gated Heart Pool Scan (CGBP, MUGA)
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm through which a medication called PYP will be administered. You will wait 15 minutes for the PYP to circulate around your body and then a radiopharmaceutical will be administered in the same cannula.
The injections will not make you feel any different.
After a short wait, you will lie on the scanning bed and ECG leads will be connected to your chest, images will then be taken for approximately 30 minutes.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 2 hours.
Myocardial Perfusion Scan (MIBI, MPS)
It is important that you do not consume any caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate, soft drink) for 24 hours before your examination.
You should fast for 4 hours before your examination. Diabetic patients taking insulin should take half their normal dose of insulin with a light meal, fast for 4 hours, bring their medication and a light meal with them. Diabetic patients not taking insulin should withhold their diabetic medication, fast for 4 hours, bring their medication and a light meal with them.
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm through which a radiopharmaceutical will be administered. After a short wait, you will lie on the scanning bed and ECG leads will be connected to your chest, initial images will then be taken for approximately 20 minutes.
The stress component of the examination will be performed after a short wait. You will be connected to the ECG machine and your Blood pressure and oxygen levels monitored by our Doctor as a medication is administered over 4 minutes. It is expected that you will have some side effects from this medication which will be explained to you prior to the examination. A second dose of the radiopharmaceutical will be administered during this procedure.
After the stress component, further images of your heart will be taken on the scanning bed for approximately 20 minutes.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 4 hours.
Central Nervous System
Brain Perfusion Scans (Ceretec)
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm and then you will relax in a dark, quiet room for 30 minutes. A medication (if required) will be administered slowly through the cannula for 10 minutes to lower the pressure in your brain, followed by a radiopharmaceutical to allow us to image your brain. You will remain resting for 30 minutes.
You will then be moved onto the scanning bed where images of your brain will be taken for 30 minutes.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 3 hours.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Shunt Scan
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered directly into your shunt reservoir, you should not feel any different.
You will lie on the scanning bed where images of your shunt will be taken for a minimum of 1 hour. Delayed imaging maybe required for up to 24 hours depending on the results of the imaging, we will keep you informed as to when you will be required to return for further imaging.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Flow Scan
A doctor will perform a lumbar puncture at which time a radiopharmaceutical will be injected into your spine, this is done either in our fluoroscopy or CT scanning rooms.
After the lumbar puncture you must lay flat for 4 hours and will be monitored by our nursing staff.
During your stay with us, you will be moved to the scanning bed where images of your spine will be taken for approximately 30 minutes at a time. Delayed imaging maybe required for up to 24 hours depending on the results of the imaging, we will keep you informed as to when you will be required to return for further imaging.
Endocrine
Parathyroid Scan
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. After a waiting 15 minutes, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for approximately 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 1 hour and you will be free to leave the clinic. When you return, imaging will take up to 1 hour.
Thyroid Scan
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. After a waiting 15 minutes, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 1 hour.
Gastrointestinal
Colonic Transit Scan (CTT)
You should fast for 4 hours before your examination.
You should not take laxatives during this examination.
A radiopharmaceutical will be given to you to drink. You should not feel any different. After a waiting 15 minutes, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for approximately 10 minutes. You may eat normally after this appointment.
You will be given times to return on the afternoon of your first day and then every morning for the rest of the week. When you return, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for approximately 10 minutes.
Gastric Emptying Scan (GE)
You should fast for 4 hours before and remain fasting for the duration of your examination.
A radiopharmaceutical will be given to you to eat in an egg sandwich. If you are not able to eat an egg sandwich, please let us know. You will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for up to 1 hour.
You will be given times to return every hour for 4 hours and you will be free to leave the clinic. Each time you return, imaging will take 10 minutes.
Gastrointestinal Bleed Scan (GI Bleed)
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm through which a medication called PYP will be administered. You will wait 15 minutes for the PYP to circulate around your body. You will lie on the scanning bed and then a radiopharmaceutical will be administered in the same cannula. Initial images will be taken for at least 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
We will be taking images throughout the day. There may be occasions when you will be free to leave the clinic, however you should be prepared to be in the clinic all day. In some cases we may ask you to return the following day for additional images.
Meckel’s Diverticulum Scan
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. Initial images will be taken for at least 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
We may need to take images throughout the day. There may be occasions when you will be free to leave the clinic, however you should be prepared to be in the clinic all day. .
Oesophageal Transit Scan
Initially we ask you to stand in front of our camera, as we squirt some water containing a radiopharmaceutical into your mouth. We will tell you when to swallow the liquid as we take images for two minutes. You should not feel any different
Next you will lie on the scanning bed, and once again we squirt some water containing a radiopharmaceutical into your mouth. We will tell you when to swallow the liquid as we take images for two minutes.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 1 hour.
Salivary Gland Scan
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. Initial images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
Next as you lie on the scanning bed, we will ask you to suck some water containing lemon juice into your mouth. We will tell you when to swallow the liquid as we take images for approximately 30 minutes.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 2 hours.
Hepatobiliary
Liver/Spleen Scan
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. You will wait 20 minutes then you will lie on the scanning bed. Initial images will be taken for approximately 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 2 hours.
Hepatobiliary Scan (HIDA)
You should fast for 4 hours before your examination.
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. Initial images will be taken for at least 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
Depending on the results we may need to wait, take further images, or give you a fatty meal to drink. Once you have consumed the fatty meal, further images will be taken for at least 1 hour.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 3 hours.
Red Blood Cell Liver Scan (RBC Liver)
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm through which a medication called PYP will be administered. You will wait 15 minutes for the PYP to circulate around your body, then you will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered in the same cannula. Initial images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes.
The injections will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 3 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. When you return, imaging will take approximately 1 hour.
Infection and Tumours
Gallium Scan
A cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm through which a radiopharmaceutical will be administered. The injection will not make you feel any different. You should expect to be in the clinic for 1 hour.
Depending on the reason for your examination, you will need to return 2-3 days after the injection for imaging.
You will be given appointment dates and times to return for imaging. When you return, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will take up to 2 hours. In some cases we may ask you to return the following day for additional images.
Bone Marrow Scan
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. After waiting 30 minutes, you will lie on the scanning bed and images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 2 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. When you return, imaging will take approximately 1 hour.
Renal
Renal Cortical Scan (DMSA)
A radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 3 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. We will give you a time to return for the second part of your examination. When you return, imaging will take approximately 1 hour.
Renal Perfusion Scan (DTPA, MAG3)
Please ensure you are well hydrated for this exam.
You will lie on the scanning bed and a cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm, then a radiopharmaceutical will be administered through the cannula. Initial images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes. You will go to the toilet to empty your bladder after which a 1 minute image will taken.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
Often an injection of Lasix will be used to make the kidneys work harder. Following this injection images will be taken for approximately 30 minutes. You will go to the toilet to empty your bladder after which another 1 minute image will taken. Please be aware that this injection can cause dehydration so you will need to increase your fluid intake and understand that you will have an increased need for urination.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 2 hours.
Respiratory
VQ Scan (Lung)
You will lie on the scanning bed and breathe in a gas containing a radiopharmaceutical for around 5 minutes. Images will be taken for approximately 15 minutes. The gas will not make you feel any different.
A radiopharmaceutical will then be administered into a vein in your arm, followed by images for approximately 15 minutes. The injection will not make you feel any different.
You should expect to be in the clinic for at least 2 hours.
Skeletal
Bone Scan
Please ensure you are well hydrated for this exam.
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. If required initial images will be taken for up to 30 minutes.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 3 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. We will give you a time to return for the second part of your examination. When you return, imaging will take approximately 2 hours.
PYP Bone Scan
Please ensure you are well hydrated for this exam.
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be administered into a vein in your arm. Initial images will be taken for approximately 1 hour.
The injection will not make you feel any different.
There will be a break of approximately 3 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. We will give you a time to return for the second part of your examination. When you return, imaging will take approximately 2 hours.
Special Procedures
Lymphoedema Scan
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be injected between your fingers or toes. The injection can sting for a brief period of time but will not make you feel any different. Images will be taken for up to 1 hour.
There will be a break of approximately 3 hours, and you will be free to leave the clinic. When you return, imaging will take approximately 1 hour.
Lymphoscintigraphy: Sentinel Node Scan
You will lie on the scanning bed and a radiopharmaceutical will be injected around the lesion or areola. The injection can sting for a brief period of time but will not make you feel any different. Images will then be taken.
Once the node is detected, it will be marked on the skin with a marker. If you have surgery directly following the scan, you will be escorted to the theatre.
Radioisotope Occult Lesion Localisation (ROLL)
You will lie on the scanning bed and the lesion will be localised using ultrasound, then a radiopharmaceutical will be injected around the lesion. The injection will not make you feel any different. The lesion will also be marked on the skin with a marker.
If you have surgery directly following the scan, you will be escorted to the theatre.
Sentinel Node Occult Lesion Localisation (SNOLL)
You will lie on the scanning bed and the lesion will be localised using ultrasound, then a radiopharmaceutical will be injected around the lesion. The injection will not make you feel any different. The lesion will also be marked on the skin with a marker.
You will then be escorted to the Nuclear Medicine section where you will lie on the scanning bed and have images taken. In some cases it may be necessary to delay your imaging or even have additional injections around the areola. The injection can sting for a brief period of time but will not make you feel any different.
Once the node is detected, it will be marked on the skin with a marker. If you have surgery directly following the scan, you will be escorted to the theatre
131 Iodine Therapy
As this is a therapeutic procedure, it is important that strict radiation protection advice is followed. This will be discussed in detail with you prior to the treatment either in person or via phone and will be provided to you in written form on the day of your procedure.
Depending on the dose of Iodine you receive, you may have to take time off work, isolate from others (particularly children and pregnant females) and be mindful of sharing eating utensils and bedding with other people.
The treatment itself is a capsule containing radioactive iodine that you swallow with water.