Nuclear Medicine |
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| Location: |
Stanford Hospital 300 Pasteur Drive Stanford, CA View a map |
| Room/Suite: | H-0250 |
| Mailing Address: |
300 Pasteur Drive Stanford, CA 94305 |
| Contact Phone: |
(650) 723-6855 |
| Days and Hours: | Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm |
What is nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine involves the use of small amounts of radioactive materials (or tracers) to help diagnose and treat a variety of diseases. Nuclear medicine determines the cause of the medical problem based on the function of the organ, tissue or bone. This is how nuclear medicine differs from an x-ray, ultrasound or any other diagnostic test that determines the presence of disease based on structural appearance.
Millions of nuclear medicine tests are performed each year in the United States alone. Nuclear medicine tests (also known as scans, examinations, or procedures) are safe and painless.
In a nuclear medicine test, the radioactive material is introduced into the body by injection, swallowing, or inhalation.
Different tracers are used to study different parts of the body. The amount of tracer used is carefully selected to provide the least amount of radiation exposure to the patient but ensures an accurate test.
A special camera (scintillation or gamma camera) is used to take pictures of your body. The camera does this by detecting the tracer in the organ, bone or tissue being imaged and then records this information on a computer screen or on film.
Generally, nuclear medicine tests are not recommended for pregnant women because unborn babies have a greater sensitivity to radiation than children or adults. If you are pregnant or think that you are pregnant, your doctor may order a different type of diagnostic test.
Additional Information
Visit the Nuclear Medicine Web site within the School of Medicine.