Isotope study

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Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Nuclear radiology is a sub-specialty of radiology in which radioisotopes (compounds containing radioactive forms of atoms) are introduced into the body for the purpose of imaging, evaluating organ function, or localizing disease or tumors.

Unlike conventional or computed radiography (such as plain x-rays and CT scans) in which x-ray beams are generated within a machine and projected through the patient, in isotope studies the radiation (gamma rays) originates from within a radiopharmaceutical (material tagged with a radioisotope) in the body.

Special detector cameras are placed close against the area of interest for a period of time, and once enough gamma rays are "seen," a computer creates an image showing where the isotope localized within the organ or body.

Generally, nuclear medicine scans do not provide the level of anatomic detail seen on x-ray, ultrasound, CT, or MR images. However, correlation with other imaging, clinical information, and laboratory results helps identify and confirm disease.

See bone scan, nuclear ventriculography (MUGA or RNV), pulmonary ventilation/perfusion scan, thyroid scan, lung scan, and renal scan.

Scintillation; Radionuclide organ imaging; Radioisotope; Radioactive uptake; PET scan; Nuclear radiography; Nuclear medicine scan

A radioactive isotope needs to be introduced into the body. This may be done in several ways:

• Through a needle into a vein (usually the inside of the elbow)
• Through a catheter that is inserted into a vein or artery and is then guided to the organ being tested
• Ingestion (for example, to test the thyroid, the patient swallows a pill containing radioactive iodine)
• Subcutaneous injection (under the skin)
• Collecting a patient's own blood from a vein, adding the radioisotope compound in a laboratory, and then injecting back into the patient

After a certain period of time has passed (ranging from a few hours to a day or more for different exams), you will be placed on a table (called a gantry) under the scanner, which may rotate around the body.