Nuclear medicine at Cancer Centre London

What is nuclear medicine?

Nuclear medicine is the practice of placing minute amounts of a radioactive isotope into the patient’s body before conducting scans using specialist equipment. This method can supply additional information for diagnosis that other tests cannot provide.

Nuclear medicine studies show physiological change (changes in the way the body is functioning), whereas other imaging techniques show anatomical change (changes in size, shape, form etc).W

What procedures take place in the Nuclear Medicine Department?

• Bone scans include SPECTCT for bone metastases, joint replacements, trauma, inflammatory arthropathy (3-phase imaging with metal artefact reduction) anVentilation-Perfusion lung scan (VQ scan) d sports medicine
• MAG 3 Renogram to look at the function of the kidneys 
• DMSA kidney scan 
• GFR test 
• Multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan to evaluate the heart’s structural and dynamic properties 
• DAT Brain scan to help distinguish Parkinson’s disease 
• Thyroid uptake scan 
• Parathyroid scan for adenoma localisation 
• Ventilation-Perfusion lung scan (VQ scan) 
• Lymphoscitingraphy 
• Sentinel node localisation for breast cancer and melanoma 
• SeHCAT for bile acid malabsorption 
• Gastric emptying study 
• HIDA scan to diagnose liver, gallbladder and bile duct problems 
• Meckel’s scan to detect diverticulum

Is it safe?

These tests are routine, safe and simple, and have no side-effects, as the amount of radioactive material used is so minimal. This material is usually given via an IV injection, although it can also be swallowed, or inhaled. The material does not affect a patient’s body.

Nuclear medicine at Cancer Centre London

We offer various nuclear medicine tests with each one following a separate protocol. Your radiographer will explain the procedure before getting started. Generally, you will be given a small injection in your arm, similar to a blood test, and images are taken using a special gamma-sensitive camera.

For the majority of tests, no special preparation is required but there are exceptions and these will be explained to you at the time of booking the appointment.

All procedures are carried out by our team of expert radiographers qualified in nuclear medicine.

How do I get a referral?

If you require a Nuclear Medicine test, your GP or consultant will refer you to CCL, where you will be required to sign a permission form before undergoing the procedure. The results are reported by a team of radiologists who specialise in nuclear medicine and are then typed up and sent to the referring consultant or GP with accompanying images.

To find out more, please call 020 8247 3351 or complete the form below.