Nuclear Medicine

To get very clear, detailed images of the inside of your body, your doctor may recommend a nuclear medicine test at UNC Health Wayne. This type of exam can find diseases in their earliest stages, when treatment works best.

Accredited Care

UNC Health Wayne holds accreditation in nuclear medicine from the American College of Radiology. That means you can trust we have:

• Advanced equipment
• Highly qualified staff
• Strict measures to ensure your safety and accurate test results

Why Do I Need a Nuclear Medicine Procedure?

Nuclear medicine can help your doctor:

• Detect conditions of the heart, kidney, liver, and other internal organs
• Diagnose cancer and see how it’s responding to treatment
• Ease bone pain
• Evaluate bone conditions, including fractures
• Examine the health of certain tissues
• Provide radioiodine therapy to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer

How to Prepare

After scheduling your appointment, you’ll receive instructions on how to get ready for your specific procedure. You may need to:

• Avoid food or drink for a certain time period
• Bring a list of your medications and dosages
• Let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
• Tell the technologist if you have any allergies

What to Expect

You’ll swallow or receive an injection of a tiny amount of radioactive material that goes to the part of your body under examination. Then, a special camera (gamma camera) tracks the path of the material, called a radiotracer, to show how your organs and tissues work.

Depending on your specific test, your procedure could take as little as a half hour. In some cases, you may need to come back to take pictures over several days.

Results

Depending on your type of test, a board-certified radiologist or cardiologist will review your results and give a report to your doctor who ordered the exam. Your doctor will share the results with you and discuss the next steps.

Visit My UNC Chart to view your results in our secure, online patient portal.