Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine Island Health

Nuclear medicine is a section of medicine and medical imaging used to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions.

Compounds containing a tiny amount of radioactivity, called pharmaceuticals, are administered by injection, inhalation, or ingestion. Once in the body, radiopharmaceuticals accumulate in specific organs and disease processes and emit energy which is detected by special cameras.

Images produced by these cameras are interpreted by nuclear medicine physicians.

The procedure is available at the following locations:

General Information on Nuclear Medicine

Referral Required?
Required
Preparing for Your Visit

The patient will be contacted directly by the ordering physician's office, or a medical imaging booking clerk, with the necessary information. 

The exam time is between two and four hours.

*Please note that this exam time includes the time of injection, wait time, prior-to-scan and scan time. The patient may be permitted to leave after the injection and return prior to the scheduled exam time.

**Some nuclear medicine studies require multiple department visits for additional scanning.

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