Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine procedures use small amounts of radioactive materials to create images. These radioactive materials are injected, swallowed or inhaled and produce radioactive emissions as they travel through the body. A special camera detects these emissions in the organ, bone or tissue being studied and records the information. Nuclear medicine is unique among imaging procedures because it documents function as well as structure.
Nuclear medicine studies may be completed in a short period of time or may require several hours. A nuclear medicine technologist will explain the process and answer any questions prior to the start of the procedure.