To many people, the term ‘nuclear medicine’ may seem concerning, if not a little frightening. However, these concerns are unfounded. The techniques used have been developed over many decades throughout the world and are no more harmful than having certain X-ray examinations or a CT scan, something many people will be more familiar with.
Nuclear medicine procedures enable the function of certain organs to be seen and evaluated. This is done by injecting a small amount of radioactivity either into the bloodstream or under the skin. A special piece of equipment called a gamma camera converts the tiny amount of radiation within the body into an image. These images are interpreted by specialist doctors to aid the diagnosis of certain medical conditions.
Scans are performed lying on a table, the camera moves around the patient if necessary. There is no ‘tunnel’ but some scans require the camera to be close to the patient’s face.
We are located within Radiology on L3. Please book in at reception desk. Patient will be directed to a waiting area.
Patients are seen by a team, which might include Radiographers, Technologists and RDA’s.
