Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine is a specialty that performs organ imaging based on body function in which the radioactive material is absorbed and excreted by the various organs of the body. It is used to diagnose medical issues or treat disease by allowing doctors and specialists to see inside the body of the patient and make informed decisions about their health and any needed treatment. These procedures use a safe amount of radioactive material and only expose patients to the same amount of radiation as a traditional X-ray.
How to Prepare for Your Exam
Once you have registered for your exam, you will take your paperwork to the Medical Imaging reception desk. You should bring a list of your current medications to your appointment. If you don’t have a list, then you can bring the medications, and the technologist will write them down.
You may be required to fast before your procedure. Certain exams are 2-
and 3-part procedures. If this is the case, you will be administered a
small amount of radioactive material, either by mouth or in the form of
an injection, and then you will be asked to return after a delay from
the time the material was administered. In some instances, you may be
asked to return the following day as well. Allergic reactions to the radioactive
materials are extremely rare. Please advise the technologist if you are
pregnant or breastfeeding before your exam.
What to Expect When You Arrive for Your Appointment
- Allergic reactions to the radioactive materials are extremely rare.
- All Nuclear Medicine Exams are performed at the ECRMC Hospital Campus
- Once you have registered for your exam, you will take your paperwork to the Medical Imaging reception desk. The receptionist will order your exam and notify the Nuclear Medicine technologist.
- The technologist will explain the procedure to you. Since you will be administered radioactive material for the procedure, you will be detectably radioactive for a designated amount of time when passing through any immigration check points. The technologist will provide you with a card to be presented to the immigration officer in the event that radiation is detected. The card will indicate how long you will be radioactive as well as the type of radiation used for your procedure.
- Please advise the technologist if you are pregnant or breast feeding, prior to receiving radioactive material.
If you have any questions or concerns about your scheduled appointment, please call the Nuclear Medicine department directly at 760-339-7244 to speak to the technologist.
