Hello and thank you for choosing
Cedars-Sinai your doctor has ordered a
nuclear medicine test. This video will
let you know what to expect and how to
get ready for your exam. Nuclear medicine
tests use radioactive substances called
tracers that help your doctor see how
organs in your body are working. The
radioactivity you're exposed to during a
nuclear medicine test is very low and
will not hurt you. The information the
test gives your doctor far outweighs
this small exposure to radiation. You
will receive your tracer either in your
hospital room or in the imaging
Department depending on the type of test
you are having. Most tracers are put in
through an IV. If you receive your tracer
in another way, your nurse doctor or a
member of the nuclear medicine staff
will let you know. Most nuclear medicine
scans don't require any special
preparation but there are a few
exceptions. For example, if you are having
a PET CT scan you'll be placed in a
special low carbohydrate diet. Your nurse
or doctor will explain how to get ready
for other tests that may need special
preparations. Now let's take a look at
what you can expect during your test.
Your nuclear medicine test will be done
at the Taper Imaging Department here at
Cedars-Sinai. About 30 minutes before
your test an imaging transporter will
come to your room to take you to imaging.
If you can you should go to the bathroom
before you leave your room. Any devices
used for your care such as an IV, heart
monitor, and oxygen will either be
supplied or be brought with you. The
transporter will check you in at the pre
scan area. For your safety you will be
asked the same questions a few times by
different members of the imaging staff.
Patients with heart monitors will still
be monitored. We will give you a call
light in case you need help.
We do many types of scans and imaging
and you may see people come after you
and leave before you. Don't worry we
didn't forget about you.These patients
may be having an imaging procedure that
is different from yours or it may be an
emergency situation. We will do our best
to keep you from waiting but delays can
happen.
For patients having PET scans the
radioactive tracer will be given in the
imaging Department. These patients will
wait 60 to 90 minutes for the tracer to
get to the areas of the body that need
to be examined. During that time period
most patients having this scan will be
moved to a quiet area where they will be
monitored. A member of the imaging staff
will move you to your exam room when
it's time for your test. In your exam
room your nuclear medicine technologist
will explain your exam to you and ask
you a few questions.
A special nuclear medicine camera or
scanner will take pictures of your body.
These do not produce any radiation. The
pictures help us detect and record the
radioactive material in your body which
helps the doctors see how your organs
are working. The scan time for most
nuclear medicine tests lasts from 1 to 4
hours. Some tests require scans for one
hour over the course of 2 to 3 days. When
your exam is complete your technologist
will not be able to give you the results.
Your exam must first be read by a
specialized imaging doctor. The
information will then be sent to your
doctor who will talk to you about the
results and use them to help you with
your treatment. After your exam, you will
be moved to the post scan area before
the transporter takes you back to your
room. We hope this video has been helpful
to you. If you have any other questions
please ask a member of the imaging team.
Thanks for watching
