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information on PET Imaging

The purpose of Nuclear Medicine procedures are:

• Effective in early detection and treatment.
• A relatively safe and painless procedure.
• Provides accurate images to study tissue and organs.
• Provides valuable information about how tissue and organs work.
• Detects a wide variety of conditions such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis and infections.

Images will be taken with different types of equipment. You may be asked to stand, sit, or lie down on a table depending on the scan your physician has requested.

After the exam the radiologist will provide your physician with an interpretation of the results of your Nuclear Medicine scan. Your physician can then make a diagnosis and explain the findings.

Charleston Radiologists offer the following Nuclear Medicine services:

• Abscess Localization
• Bone Imaging--SPECT and Triple Phase
• Brain Imaging with Static and Flow as well as SPECT Imaging
• Cisternography
• CSF Leak Localization
• Cardiac Gaiting with ejection fraction and SPECT
• Gastric Emptying
• GI Bleed
• Meckel's Scan
• Hepatobiliary Scan
• Liver/Spleen Scan
• Lung Ventilation/Perfusion
• Lymphatic and Lymph Node Imaging
• Sentinel Node Injection of the Breast
• Parathyroid Imaging
• Thyroid Scan with Uptakes and Therapies
• Renal Scan with and without ACE
• Shillings Test
• Testicular Scans
• Tumor Localizations

Patient Preparation

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Nuclear Medicine Bone Scans

• Detects areas of bone growth, fractures, tumors and infections.
• The technician will give you an injection and you will be asked to return in about 3 hours.
• Pictures of your bones will be taken.

Nuclear Medicine Cardiac Imaging Scans

• Used to study blood flow to the heart, heart functions, or diagnose a recent heart attack.
• Your physician may ask you to avoid certain foods and medications the night before your exam.

Nuclear Medicine Thyroid Uptakes and Scans
Two-day testing used to diagnose disorders of the thyroid gland.
You will be asked to avoid foods, liquids and certain medications the night before your exam.

Day One

• The technician will provide you with a pill to swallow.
• You may leave the hospital at this time and return two hours later for the uptake.

Day Two

• The technician will give you an injection.
• Fifteen minutes later the technician will begin your scan.

Nuclear Medicine Liver and Gallbladder Scans

• Used to diagnose liver disorders and gallbladder disease.
• When you are scheduled you will be asked to avoid all foods and medications the night before the exam.
• The technician will give you an injection.
• Pictures of your liver and gallbladder will be taken.

Nuclear Medicine Lung Scans

• Detects blood clots in the lungs.
• Pictures of your lungs will be taken.
• A chest x-ray of your lungs will also be taken.

Nuclear Medicine Renal Scans

• Used to detect disease, damage, and malformations of kidneys and urinary tract.
• The technician will give you an injection.
• Pictures of your kidneys and urinary tract will be taken.
• You may be asked to avoid certain medications for this exam.

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Q. What are varicose veins?
A. Varicose veins are abnormal bulging veins below the skin surface that are unsightly and often painful. They frequently cause swelling and discomfort in the legs, especially during periods of prolonged standing. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to permanent skin changes and sometimes ulceration.

Q. Are varicose veins only a cosmetic concern?
A. The appearance of varicose veins and spider veins (these are the smaller and more common variation of varicose veins) is the concern. However, varicose veins cause aching pain and discomfort. This condition may lead to serious problems if not treated.

Q. What new non-invasive techniques are available to treat varicose veins?
A. Surgery was the traditional treatment for varicose veins, but it’s invasive, moderately painful and has a slightly longer recovery period. Surgery requires the use of anesthesia, leaves a scar and a few incisions.

One of the newest non-invasive techniques in varicose vein removal is endovenous laser treatment (EVLT). The EVLT procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia, requires no incisions, and usually lasts less than an hour. An interventional radiologist, a doctor specially trained in performing minimally invasive treatments using imaging guidance, can perform EVLT.

Q. How does the EVLT procedure work?
A. With EVLT, laser energy minimizes the vein walls, shrinking them and closing the faulty vein so that the blood cannot flow through it. This eliminates the bulging of the vein at its source. After the treatment, the blood in the faulty veins will be diverted to the many normal veins in the leg.

The procedure leaves no visible scarring. There is minimal postoperative pain, and a quick recovery period gains immediate relief from symptoms. It is well documented that EVLT has a 98% initial success rate with excellent long-term results.

For more information on EVLT and varicose vein removal, visit InvisVein.