Qu’est-ce que la médecine nucléaire ?
Nuclear Medicine utilizes very small amounts of radioactive material ("radiotracers") to generate diagnostic images of various parts of the body. These radiotracers are injected into the body and give off energy detected by a special device called a gamma camera. Anatomical and functional images of the body are then generated and saved.
Cardiac nuclear medicine is used to assess the anatomy and function of your heart. Specifically, this test may be used to investigate chest pain, evaluate the presence and extent of coronary artery disease, determine the function of the heart muscle ("myocardium"), and evaluate the results of bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty/stents.
Our nuclear medicine department offers a fully equipped cardiac stress room. The test will be performed and reported by certified staff.
How Can I Prepare For A Nuclear Medicine Exam?
Cardiac Nuclear Medicine
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Do not eat or drink (except water) for 4 hours prior to the test. Diabetic patients may have a little juice as needed
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No coffee, tea, Cola drinks, or chocolate for 48h prior to the test
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Please wear comfortable clothes and walking or running shoes for the stress test (treadmill)
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If you take any medication, please consult with your doctor if you need to discontinue use before test
Hepatobiliary Scan
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Nothing by mouth for 4 hrs prior to your appointment
Meckel’s Scan
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Nothing by mouth after midnight
Renal Scan
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Drink 3-4 glasses of water prior to arrival. Voiding is permitted
Bone Scan, Brain, Liver, Lung, Muga, Salivary
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No special preparation is necessary
How is a Nuclear Cardiology (Sestamibi) Study Performed?
The examination is performed in two parts:
1. Test d'exercice ou d'effort - Une perfusion intraveineuse est placée dans votre bras et des dérivations ECG seront placées sur votre poitrine pour surveiller votre fréquence cardiaque. Il vous sera ensuite demandé de marcher sur un tapis roulant pour élever votre fréquence cardiaque à un objectif spécifié. À ce stade, une petite quantité de matière radioactive sera injectée dans l’intraveineuse. Après une attente de 30 à 60 minutes, il vous sera demandé de vous allonger sur la table d'examen où la caméra tournera autour de votre corps et prendra plusieurs photos de votre cœur. REMARQUE : Si vous ne parvenez pas à marcher sur le tapis roulant, vous pouvez recevoir à la place un médicament qui simule l'exercice.
2. Test de repos - Cette partie sera effectuée quelques jours ou heures après le test d'effort et peut nécessiter une autre injection du même matériau radioactif. Vous pourrez partir à la fin du test. Il ne devrait y avoir aucun changement dans votre activité quotidienne. Les matières radioactives seront principalement éliminées de votre corps dans votre urine ou vos selles. Le reste disparaît par dégradation naturelle au fil du temps.
How Are Other Nuclear Medicine Studies Performed?
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Each test has a slightly different protocol.
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Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam you are undergoing, the dose of radiotracer is then injected intravenously, swallowed by mouth or inhaled as a gas. When the radiotracer has accumulated in the organ or area being studied (this can take anywhere from a few seconds to days), images will be obtained using a gamma camera.
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The length of time for the study varies greatly, depending on the exam. Please contact us for specific details.
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