What you should know before your Nuclear Medicine study
Am I injected with any liquid or substance during the study?
In Nuclear Medicine studies, a liquid substance known as a radiopharmaceutical is administered. It can be given orally or by injection, although some studies may use other routes of administration.
The radiopharmaceutical is designed to target specific areas of the body, allowing physicians to evaluate their function and activity.
Once administered, a specialized camera system detects the radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceutical and produces images that provide the physician with valuable information about how certain organs and tissues are functioning.
Because this product is not a conventional contrast agent, it allows us to:
- Evaluate not only the structure of an organ, but also its function.
- Detect functional or metabolic changes.
- Locate areas of abnormal function with great precision.
- Help avoid the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures.
The amount used is very small and is carefully calculated for each specific study, so radiation exposure is controlled and kept within appropriate levels.
Most importantly, these substances are naturally eliminated from your body within a relatively short period of time.
If you have any specific medical condition, are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding, it is important to inform the medical staff before receiving the radiopharmaceutical.
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