Our Services & Specialties

Nuclear Medicine, or molecular imaging, is a diagnostic imaging technique that involves the use of radioactive traces to study the physiological function of the body's organs. It differs from other radiology procedures because the image that is produced indicates the biological processes that take place on a cellular level, rather that giving an anatomical representation of the structure.

Please click on the following procedures for further information:

• Bone Scan

  What is it?
  This test examines the bones, looking at their blood supply and function. A radioactive tracer is injected into a vein in your arm that is absorbed by the bones. There are no side effects from the tracer and it will not make you feel any different.

  How long does it take?
  The first part of the test will take between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on what part of the body we are interested in. Once this part is finished, you may leave the department and continue your day as normal. We will then require you to return to the depatment 3 to 4 hours later. This second scan can can take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. More specific information regarding these times will be given to you by the radiographer when you book the scan.

  Preparation.
  You may eat normally prior to and throughout the test, and go about your day as normal. We do ask you, however, to drink one to two litres of water between the first and second parts of the test. Women who are breastfeeding are also advised not to do so for 24 hours after the examination.

  If you have any further questions, the Nuclear Medicine department can be contacted between 9am and 5pm on 020 7407 3100, extension 3110.

• Myocardial Perfusion Scan

  Your doctor has requested that you undergo a myocardial perfusion scan to detect any coronary artery disease. This test will give your doctor information about how your heart and its blood supply is functioning at both rest and exercise.

  The test is performed in two parts. The first part will take place in the Cardiology department and involve some exercise on a treadmill to increase your heart rate and its workload. Whilst you are exercising, a small amount of a radioactive tracer (99mTc-Myoview) will be injected that goes to your heart. If you cannot exercise on a treadmill, a drug that simulates exercise will be used to dilate your coronary arteries. This part of the test is quite important as coronary artery disease can often be diagnosed only during physical stress when the heart needs to work harder.

  Once you have completed the exercise, a series of images will be taken of your heart in the Nuclear Medicine department. These images will show how well blood is supplied to your heart under exercise. Between two and three hours later, a second series of images will be taken so that the resting blood supply to the heart can be assessed.

  There are no side effects from the radioactive tracer that is used for the test so you will not feel any different after it is injected. The only preparation for the test is for you to have no caffeine for 24 hours prior to the test. This includes coffee, tea, soft drink and chocolate. On the day of the test you may have a light breakfast. If you are a smoker, please do not smoke on the day of the test. As you will be doing some exercise, please bring some suitable clothing to change into.

  If you have any further questions regarding your examination, you can contact the Nuclear Medicine department on 020 7234 2710.

• DTPA & MAG3 Renogram

  What is it?
  This is a test that assesses the size and relative function of the kidneys. It is performed by injecting a radioactive tracer that is absorbed by your kidneys, into your bloodstream. The tracer will have no side effects and you will not feel any different.

  How long does it take?
  You will be injected with the radioactie tracer and imaging will begin immediately. This first set of images wil take approxiamately 30 minutes. Depending on how well your kidneys are functioning, a further injection of a drug called frusemide may need to be given. This drug increases the filtration rate of the kidney. A further twenty minutes of images will be taken for this phase.

  Preparation.
  There is no preparation for this test and you may eat normally prior, during and after the test. However, we do recommend that you drink plenty of fluids between the injection and the scan. Women who are breastfeeding are also advised not to do so for 24 hours.

• GFR - Glomerular Filtration Rate

  What is it?
  This test investigates the function of the kidneys. A small amount of a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein in your arm, which is filtered out of the body through the kidneys. Three blood samples are taken so that we can determine how well your kidneys are filtering the blood. There are no side effects from the tracer.

  How long does it take?
  The initial injection for the test takes about 5 minutes. You may then leave the department and continue your day as normal. We will then require you to return to the department 2 hours later so that we can take a blood sample. Another two blood samples will be taken at one-hour intervals (3 blood samples in total). These blood samples will allow us to work out how well your kidneys are functioning.

  Preparation.
  There is no preparation for this test and you may eat normally throughout the test.

  If you have any further questions, the Nuclear Medicine department can be contacted between 9am and 5pm on 020 7407 3100, extension 3110.

• Thyroid Scan

  What is it?
  This test investigates the function of the thyroid. A small amount of a radioactive tracer is injected into a vein in your arm, which will not make you feel any different. This tracer concentrates in the thyroid, allowing us to image it.

  How long does it take?
  The study takes approximately 40 minutes. The initial injection will take 5 minutes. We then wait for 20 minutes before scanning to ensure that the tracer has localised in the thyroid. The scan will then take about 15 minutes.

  Preparation.
  There is no preparation for this test and you may eat normally throughout the test. However, please advise staff if you have had any other radiological contrast procedures (CT, IVU) in the past two months. Women who are breastfeeding are also advised not to do so for 24 hours.

  If you have any further questions, the Nuclear Medicine department can be contacted between 9am and 5pm on 020 7234 2710.

For further information, or to make an appointment, please call 020 7234 2710 or to find a consultant please click here.