Nuclear Medicine

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear Medicine is the Medical Imaging modality that measures the function of the body's organs/systems, through the introduction of a small dose of radioactivity. Some commonly ordered Nuclear Medicine exams include HIDA/gallbladder scans, bone scans, cardiac exams, renal scans, and thyroid scans, as well as many others.

What do I need to do to prepare for my Nuclear Medicine exam?

Prep for a Nuclear Medicine exam depends on the test that your doctor ordered--specific instructions will be given to you by the person scheduling the test, usually the doctor's office staff or a Nuclear Medicine technologist.

How long do Nuclear Medicine exams take?

Again, that depends on the test ordered. In order to gauge the function of an organ/system, we have to let your body function, so tests can be lengthy.

The clinical discipline concerned with the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of radionuclides (an isotope of artificial or natural origin that exhibits radioactivity), excluding the therapeutic use of sealed radiation sources. Certain imaging procedures, including PET scanning, employ radionuclides to provide real-time visuals of biochemical processes. One device, a nuclear imaging machine, employs a scintillation camera, which can rotate around the body to pick up radiation emitted by an injected substance (e.g., radioactive iodine, which localizes in the thyroid, or radioactive thallium, which localizes in the heart). Through computerization, a digitized image of a particular organ is produced.

Learn more about specific Nuclear Medicine procedures.

Please call 815-432-7727 for more information on (CT Scan, Mammography, Nuclear Medicine, MRI, Ultrasound) and Centralized Scheduling at 815-432-7733 to schedule appointments.

Pre-register for your Nuclear Medicine exam.