One of the unique features of a nuclear medicine scan is that it shows the “function” of the organ or tissue being evaluated as opposed to just a picture. PET Scan A positron emission tomography (PET) scan reveals how organs and tissues are functioning, as opposed to MRI and CT scans, which show the structure of organs and blood flow. During the scan, you are visible to and can communicate with the technologist, who is present in the room at all times. Nuclear medicine offers the potential to identify disease in its earliest stage, often before symptoms occur or abnormalities can be detected with other diagnostic tests. While the decision has been made to hold the 2021 Annual Meeting virtually, we are already busy preparing to make it … Nuclear medicine scans can be used to measure real-time functions of body systems, including the lungs. The nuclear medicine physician will select the tracer that will provide the most specific and reliable information for a patient’s particular problem. The role of this procedure is to diagnose pulmonary embolism and/or to evaluate lung disease, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The scan length depends on the type of exam. A radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) is injected into a vein, attaches to the bones and is detected by a special camera (gamma camera) that takes images or pictures that show how the bones are working. A liver scan is a type of nuclear medicine procedure. Nuclear Lung Scan Your doctor has recommended that you receive a lung scan. Sentinel Node Biopsy The surgery that removes lymph node tissue to look for cancer is called a sentinel node biopsy. This helps to determine if the organ is working properly. The SNMMI Annual Meeting is widely recognized as the premier educational, scientific, research, and networking event in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. A nuclear medicine scan is less expensive and may yield more precise information than exploratory surgery. It shows not only what the kidneys look like, but also how well they work. Your doctor can use this to pinpoint certain health issues much sooner than with other methods. This means that a tiny amount of a radioactive substance is used during the procedure to assist in the examination of the liver. Nuclear Medicine Imaging Types. The tracer that is used determines whether the patient receives a SPECT or PET scan. At the end of the scan, the nuclear medicine physician on duty reviews your images. Results can be immediate, but in other cases they take quite a bit of time to process. A nuclear medicine bone scan also shows whether there has been any improvement or deterioration in a bone abnormality after treatment. The patient must usually remains motionless for a period of minutes or hours while the scanning device measures how the body processes the isotope. A renal nuclear medical scan is used to diagnose certain kidney diseases. Instead, we value the contributions and insights of those who have arrived at our field via specific training in nuclear medicine, nuclear radiology, nuclear cardiology, and related disciplines, and are centrally involved in creating the most robust training programs for the bright future of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging and therapy. After a Nuclear Medicine Scan. A nuclear medicine renal scan uses radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive medications) injected into a vein, usually in the arm, to provide clear images of the kidneys taken with a special camera called a gamma camera. To learn more about nuclear medicine or nuclear scans, call Radiology and Imaging Specialists at (863) 688-2334.