Nuclear Medicine Scans

At Virginia Regional Medical Center, nuclear medicine scans are performed by highly trained nuclear medicine technologists.  Our professional staff is competent, friendly, and courteous and prides itself on maintaining a pleasant atmosphere.   Our goal is to provide quality medical care with special attention to your comfort.

Some Background About Nuclear Medicine Scans                         
Your physician has arranged for you to have a nuclear medicine scan.

Nuclear medicine scans provide physicians with a safe, painless tool to help diagnose diseases of the thyroid, bone, lung, liver, gallbladder, and heart.  A very small, safe amount of radioactive material is injected or swallowed prior to the scan. The radionuclide travels through the blood vessels to the organ to be studied.  Different radionuclides are used as each organ absorbs its own specific material.  The radionuclide emits gamma rays that are detected by the gamma camera and stored in a computer to produce your nuclear medicine study.

Nuclear medicine scans pose no significant risk to your health.  You receive only a tiny amount of radionuclide, which is eliminated from your body in 1 - 2 days.

When You Arrive At VRMC
Please arrive at your scheduled appointment time. Enter Virginia Regional Medical Center through the main lobby and proceed to the patient services desk.  A patient services representative will help you register for admission to our Imaging Department.

Time Required For Your Nuclear Scan
The directions below suggest how much time to set aside for your particular scan.  Occasional delays may occur, however, so we recommend that you allow extra time for the entire procedure.

Directions For Your Specific Nuclear Scan
Bone Scan
          * You may eat and drink as normal.  Be sure to drink plenty of fluids.
          * Allow approximately 4 hours for the total procedure.
          * You will receive radionuclide by injection when you arrive. 
            The scanning procedure can begin 3 hours after injection. 
          * You will be allowed to leave the hospital during the 3-hour wait.
          * Allow approximately one hour for the scan.

Liver Scan
          * You may eat and drink as normal.
          * Allow approximately 45 minutes for the total procedure.
          * You will receive radionuclide by injection when you arrive.  
            The scanning procedure can begin 15 minutes after injection.
          * Allow approximately 30 minutes for the scan.

Lung Scan (VQ Scan)
          * You may eat and drink as normal.
          * Allow approximately 1 - 1 1/2 hours for the total procedure.
          * You will be given an injection of radionuclide and an aerosol treatment for radioactivity.

Hepatobiliary Scan/Gallbladder
          * NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK 4 hours before the procedure.
          * Allow 1 - 4 hours for the procedure.
          * You will be given an injection of radionuclide.

Thyroid Scan
          * You may eat and drink as normal.
          * Allow approximately 1 1/2 hours for the procedure.
          * You must be off thyroid medications for six weeks.
          * You will be given an injection of radionuclide.

Cardiolite Stress Test (this is a two day test)
Day 1
          * You may eat and drink like normal.
          * You will receive a radioactive injection, wait one hour and then have a scan that will  
             take approximately 1/2 hour.
          * Total time about 1 1/2 hours.
Day 2
          * Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day of the exam.
          * You will have an IV put in your arm.
          * We will do a stress test.  Your doctor will decide whether to use the treadmill or
            medicine.
          * While having the stress test, you will receive another radioactive injection.  Pictures
            to follow
          * Total time Day 2 approximately 2 hours.

Resting Thallium
          * You may eat and drink as normal.
          * You will come in the morning and receive a radioactive injection, wait 10 minutes and  
            have a scan which takes about 1/2 hour.
          * There will be a six hour wait in between pictures.  You may leave the hospital if you like.
          * You will be asked to return six hours later for another picture.
          * The technologist will tell you the exact time to return.
          * Total time including wait time is about seven hours.

Renogram/Renal Scan
          * Patient is to be well hydrated the day of the study.  Drink two quarts of fluid prior
            to scan, anytime during the day.        
          * Allow approximately 1 1/2 hours for exam.
          * You will be given an injection of radionuclide.
Note:  If the study is done with a medicine called Capoten, you will be asked which medications you are on and instructed not to take certain ones. 

After Your Arrival And Registration
You will first be greeted by a technologist from our nuclear medicine staff.  After a few initial questions, the technologist will bring you to the gamma camera room. PLEASE INFORM THE STAFF IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST-FEEDING.  Please feel free to ask the technologist any questions you may have about your nuclear medicine procedure.

During Your Scan
Once you are in the gamma camera room, the technologist will help you onto a table.  You will be asked to lie down under the camera to be positioned for the scan.  You will receive radionuclide by injection, I.V., or oral preparation.  Most scans require many different images, and the technologist will help position you correctly.  The camera may also be rotated to different positions.  During the scan, you must lie perfectly still.  Each scan image usually takes 2 - 3 minutes, but some can take up to 15 minutes.

By relaxing and working with your technologist, you can contribute to the success of your nuclear medicine scan.

After Your Scan
Unless otherwise directed, you may leave Virginia Regional Medical Center and return to a normal routine.  A physician, specially trained in nuclear medicine, will view your studies and contact your physician, who will share the results with you.  Additional tests or treatments may be recommended.