Before you arrive for your procedure, we suggest that you dress comfortably and warmly.

If lying on your back for a long period of time is painful, you may want take a pain pill prior to the study.

The radiotracer will remain in your body for a short time, and is excreted through natural bodily functions. Drinking plenty of fluids after the test will help your body clear the tracer more quickly.

In order to have the best possible nuclear medicine procedure, it is very important to remain as still as possible. Any movement may make the images more difficult to interpret, or even cause the exam to be repeated. If there is any part of the procedure that you do not understand, please ask the technologist.

Each procedure has its own criteria for preparation. Please check your procedure below for a brief description, preparation rules, and duration of each exam.

Bone Scan

This test evaluates orthopedic injuries, fractures, infections, tumors, spine/facet joint degenerative changes, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or unexplained bone pain. There is no special preparation for this exam. It requires two visits during the same day. The first will be approximately 30 minutes for the injection. You will need to return three to four hours later for delayed images that take about 60 minutes.

Scans to Evaluate Infection and Inflammation

There is no special preparation for these exams. They require multiple visits on consecutive days.

Renal Imaging

This test can evaluate kidney function, check for ureteral obstruction, and evaluate regional scarring from old infections and/or chronic obstruction. It can also be used to evaluate renal artery stenosis as a cause for hypertension. The test and preparation vary, depending on why your test has been ordered. Your doctor should give you instructions to follow, or you can contact us with any questions. These exams can take up to two hours to complete, depending on the function of your kidneys.

Gastrointestinal Imaging

These exams evaluate gastric emptying time and gastroesophageal reflux. They require that you have nothing to eat or drink for six hours prior to the test. A typical exam takes approximately two hours to complete.

Hepatobiliary Imaging

These exams evaluate liver and gall bladder function/contractility. They require that you have nothing to eat or drink for at least six hours prior to the test. A typical exam takes approximately two hours to complete.

Endocrine System Imaging

These tests are used to evaluate the structure and function of the thyroid gland. They can be used for tumor localization, as well as for parathyroid adenoma detection. Preparation rules vary, depending upon which exam your doctor has ordered. Your doctor should give you instructions to follow, or you can contact us with any questions. A thyroid uptake and scan has three appointment times. The first two take about 30 minutes and the last takes approximately 60 minutes. The thyroid tumor imaging is a four-day procedure. The first appointment takes 30 minutes. You will also have appointments on days three and four of the procedure, which take about 60 minutes each. A parathyroid study has two appointments, four hours apart, each lasting about 45 minutes.

Radioiodine Treatment of Thyroid Disease

This procedure will usually require you to stop taking any thyroid medication for several weeks prior to the treatment. The treatment requires a pre-treatment office visit, which lasts approximately 30 minutes. You will subsequently return the next day for a very short visit for the actual treatment.

Radioactive Antibody Treatment of Refractory Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Patients with NHL, who are determined by their oncologist to be resistant to conventional chemotherapy, may be candidates for a new therapy with antibodies targeted to attack their tumor. These antibodies are labeled with a radioactive element to locally radiate their tumor as well. The treatment protocol is tailored to each individual patient and will be coordinated with your oncologist

Specialized Tagged Antibody Tumor Localization

This procedure is done to evaluate ovarian, colorectal, and neuroendocrine tumors and metastases. The preparation for these exams will depend upon which exam your doctor has ordered. Please contact us regarding the specifics for your test. These tests generally require multiple visits on consecutive days, usually lasting one hour per visit.

Heart Scan

This test is used to evaluate cardiac wall motion and contractility. There is no special preparation for this exam, and it takes approximately 90 minutes to complete.