Nuclear medicine is a diagnostic imaging specialty that assesses the condition of organ systems or body functions. During the exam, a small amount of a radioactive tracer (called a radiopharmaceutical) will be given to you and special cameras will be used to take pictures of your body.
It is important to note that nuclear medicine procedures are offered at Markham Stouffville Hospital; however, only bone mineral density testing (BMD) is available at Uxbridge Hospital.
Nuclear medicine tests are performed by medical radiation technologists (also known as MRTs) who have specialized in nuclear medicine technology. To learn more about these health professionals see the College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario.
To have a nuclear medicine test, your doctor needs to fill out a referral form. Download nuclear medicine referral form.
We encourage you to learn more about nuclear medicine by visiting the website for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. It addresses many questions patients often have about nuclear medicine as a diagnostic tool, its safety, and the concerns about radiation involved with many of the tests. Since the procedures practiced in our own department may be slightly different from the internet-based booklet, we recommend that you review the information about tests the nuclear medicine department provides below.
Learn more about making an appointment and coming to our hospitals.
Before Your Nuclear Medicine Test
Preparation varies depending on the nuclear medicine test or scan that you are having.
For more information about this test, download our general nuclear medicine brochure.
After Your Nuclear Medicine Test
You may resume normal activities immediately, unless the technologist or physician tells you otherwise. We also suggest that you increase your fluids over the next day to help eliminate any residual radioactive tracer from your body.
A radiologist or another specially-trained physician will interpret your images. For some nuclear medicine studies, the radiologist may find it useful to have other pictures or X-rays taken after your nuclear medicine scan, to help enhance the diagnostic report that will be sent to your doctor. If additional images are required, we will do our best to fit this imaging in before you leave the department that day.