Nuclear Medicine

What is a radioisotope scan (‘nuclear medicine test’)?

There are many types of radioisotope scans but they all rely on a small amount of radioactive tracer delivered to the patient’s body to study a specific body function. Using a special camera named ‘gamma camera’, doctors can visualise the pattern of radioactive tracer in the body to aid diagnosis.

Benefits and risks

Your doctor will have decided on the most suitable imaging examination. The nuclear medicine scan images inform your doctor of the function of a certain body system. This will help diagnosing and managing your illness. The amount of radiation used is always kept as low as possible and should not be dangerous. The scan is painless; however it may involve an injection through the vein.

Find out what happens before and during your scan appointment.

Examples of the range of body parts that isotope scans image are listed below.  

• Bones
• Kidneys
• Thyroid gland
• Parathyroid glands
• Lungs, to detect ‘blood clot’ (pulmonary embolus)
• Breast
• Stomach, bowel and gall bladder
• Brain
• Infection
• Certain tumours

Opening Hours

8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday

Booking Enquiries

029 2074 6881

Consultants

• Dr Patrick Fielding
• Dr Sara Harrison
• Dr Nick Morley
• Dr John Rees

Superintendent Radiographers

• Mr Lee Bartley (UHW)
• Mr Chris O'Callaghan (UHW)
• Mrs Nicola O'Callaghan (UHL)