What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine is the use of small amounts of radioactive material to help gather images of various parts of the body. These images are then used by medical professionals to make a diagnosis. The images are taken using a gamma camera, and can take up to one hour, depending on the type of scan.
Hybrid Imaging
In some cases it is required that a scan is taken place using a SPECT-CT scanner. This scanner incorporates both a gamma camera and a CT scanner. The SPECT part of the scan uses the gamma camera, which rotates around the body and produces a 3D image. The CT part of the scan also produces a 3D image by using x-rays. The two separate images are of the same area of the body and provide complimentary information which can be used to aid diagnosis.
Our Cameras
Currently, our Nuclear Medicine department has two gamma cameras:
• Siemens Symbia S. This has two ‘heads’ and can scan from head to feet, or can scan around the body.
• Siemens Symbia T6. This has the same capabilities as the Symbia S with the added functionality of a six-slice CT scanner for hybrid imaging. This camera was kindly donated by The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity in 2010.
Available Nuclear Medicine tests
A wide range of imaging and in-vitro tests are carried out by our Nuclear Medicine department including:
• Bone scans
• Brain imaging (SPECT Perfusion and DAT)
• Gallium Imaging
• Gastro-intestinal imaging (Oesophageal transit, gastric emptying, meckels, hepatobiliary/HIDA and SeHCAT)
• GFR studies
• Kidney scans (DMSA and renogram)
• Lung perfusion scans
• MIBG imaging
• MUGA scans
• Myocardial perfusion imaging
• Octreotide/tecktrotyd imaging
• Red cell volume studies
• Thyroid and parathyroid imaging
• White cell scans
Paediatric Imaging
Paediatric imaging is also carried out by our Nuclear Medicine department in coordination with the Children’s Outpatients department.
