Nuclear Medicine

Conditions Treated

• •PET/CT Scan for Cancer Staging — Whole-body imaging using radioactive glucose to detect cancer cells anywhere in the body. Essential for staging and treatment response assessment.
• •Thyroid Cancer — Radioiodine Therapy — Radioactive iodine (I-131) treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer after surgery. One of the most effective targeted cancer treatments.
• •Bone Scan — Whole-body skeletal imaging to detect bone metastases, stress fractures, osteomyelitis, and metabolic bone disease.
• •Cardiac Nuclear Imaging — Myocardial perfusion scan (SPECT/MPI) to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle — detects coronary artery disease without invasive angiography.
• •Renal Scan (DTPA/DMSA) — Functional kidney imaging to assess individual kidney function, drainage, and scarring. Not replaced by CT or ultrasound.

Health Tips

• •Follow fasting instructions before PET/CT scans
• •Drink plenty of water after nuclear medicine procedures
• •Maintain distance from pregnant women and children for a few hours after scans
• •Inform your doctor if you're pregnant or breastfeeding

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Fast for 4-6 hours before PET/CT scan — eating raises blood sugar and reduces scan quality
• •For diabetics: manage blood sugar as instructed — blood glucose above 200 mg/dL may require rescheduling
• •Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before PET scan — muscle uptake can interfere with interpretation
• •Inform about pregnancy, breastfeeding, or any allergies before any nuclear medicine procedure
• •You will receive an injection of radioactive tracer — this is painless and safe
• •Wait for 45-60 minutes after injection (for PET/CT) while the tracer distributes — stay still and relaxed
• •The scan itself takes 20-40 minutes — you need to lie still on the scanner bed
• •Inform the technologist if you are claustrophobic — the scanner is open and less confining than MRI
• •Drink 2-3 litres of water after the procedure to flush the radioactive tracer from your body
• •For radioiodine therapy: follow isolation instructions strictly — maintain distance from children and pregnant women
• •Radioactivity from diagnostic scans is negligible after a few hours — normal contact is safe
• •Collect your report as scheduled and bring it to your treating doctor for treatment planning

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •Is the radiation from this scan safe?
• •How should I prepare for my PET/CT scan?
• •How long do I need to avoid contact with others after radioiodine therapy?
• •Will this scan change my treatment plan?
• •How soon will results be available?
• •Are there alternatives to this nuclear medicine test?

When to See a Specialist

A Nuclear Medicine specialist uses radioactive tracers for diagnostic imaging (PET/CT, bone scans) and targeted radioactive therapy.

• •Cancer staging — PET/CT scan
• •Thyroid cancer — radioiodine therapy
• •Bone scan for cancer spread or infection
• •Heart function assessment (MUGA scan)
• •Kidney function study (DTPA scan)

Nuclear medicine procedures use very small amounts of radiation — they are safe when prescribed by your doctor.