Nuclear Med offers a wide variety of studies. The majority of studies require the patient to be injected with a radioactive isotope.
Depending on the study there might be a waiting time before the scan (allowing the isotope enough time to gather in the particular study site). The patient will then be scanned at least once, depending on the study. Please note: a number of the appointment will require patients to return to Nuclear Med repeatedly for up to two days. Please familiarise yourself with the requirements as the radioactive isotopes have sepcific window periods in which they can be scanned
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Ventilation & Perfusion (VQ)
This study examines the air and blood flow into the patient’s lungs and is primarily used to diagnose blood clots in the lungs.
No preparation for the scan is required. Previous chest x-rays to be provided if possible.
The patient will be asked to breath in a radioactive gas through a tube to demonstrate the air supply to the lungs. This takes about 7 minutes.
The patient will then be scanned, lying on a bed with the gamma camera moving around them.
Images will then be taken at different angles around the patient's chest. This takes about 15 minutes.
The patient will then be injected with a radio-pharmaceutical to demonstrate the blood supply to your lungs.
The images will be repeated and take about 10 minutes each.
A mismatch between the two sets of images helps in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs).
Patients will need to be referred to Nuclear Med by a referring doctor. Patients must select the specific scan/study required by their referring doctor and book an appointment at the most convenient location.
Checklist:
Medical aid authorisation (referring doctor to provide patient with specific ICD 10 code for medical aid authorisation)
Referring doctor’s name and practice number
Newly diagnosed oncology patients may need to register for oncology (referring doctor to facilitate registration)
