Welcome to the Nuclear Medicine Department
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Can the patient take any steps to Directions (Beaumont Hospital) protect against radiation? The Nuclear Medicine department is lo- If you have had a nuclear medicine scan in the recent past inform the staff cated in the radiology department, on the member to ensure that tests are not duplicated unnecessarily. lower ground floor of the hospital. Please check in at the main x-ray reception desk The following precautions need to be observed for 24 hours after your on arrival. bone scan: Patients should drink plenty of fluids and empty their blad- ders frequently. This helps to clear the Who do I contact if I am unable to at- Beaumont Hospital Imaging and Interventional Radiology injected material from the body. Pa- tend? Directorate tients should observe careful hygiene when going to the toilet during this pe- Please contact 01-7974440 if you wish to riod. It is advisable to flush the toilet reschedule your appointment DMSA twice after use. Patient Information It is recommended that patients avoid spending long periods of time Nuclear Medicine Radiology Department (in excess of 30 mins) in close con- Welcome to the tact with young children or pregnant Beaumont Hospital women. Dublin 9. Nuclear Medicine Tel: (01) 7974440 If you are a nursing mother express Fax:(01) 8092576 Department Web site: www.beaumont.ie and discard the breast milk for 24 hours after your injection. You may resume normal breast-feeding after this time. Date Issued: May 2018 Important information Review date: May 2020 Young children and pregnant women should not accompany patients to Nu- Author(s): Radiography Management Team clear medicine. Approved by: Imaging and Interventional Radi- If there is any chance you may be ology Directorate Team pregnant, please inform the nuclear medicine department prior to your ap- pointment. (01-7974440). Introduction Do I need to prepare for the scan? Will I receive much radiation? A Nuclear Medicine DMSA scan has There is no special preparation for this scan. No. The amount of radiation you receive is been requested for you and this leaflet You may eat and drink normally beforehand very small and the risks are low. The radia- explains what the scan involves and tion dose you receive from this scan is what you need to do to prepare for How will the injection affect me? similar to that which you would receive your scan. You should not feel any different after your from your environment over a period of 1 injection. The procedure will not affect your to 2 years. Your doctor will have weighed What is radiation? ability to drive and you do not need someone the benefit of improved diagnosis of your Radiation is a form of electrical and to accompany you unless you so wish. condition against the small risk of the ra- magnetic disturbance that transports diation exposure. energy. For example it is radiation What will happen during the scan? that brings energy to us from the sun. You may need to undress for your scan and How does a nuclear medicine scan you will be asked to remove metal objects differ from an X-ray? What is a Nuclear Medicine DMSA such as keys, coins, belt from your person Nuclear Medicine patients are adminis- scan? prior to the scan. Your scan will be done ly- tered substances that emit radiation This is an investigation in which pic- ing down on the gamma camera. The scan and which enable staff to investigate tures of your kidneys will be taken with will take approximately 15 minutes to com- processes that are happening in the pa- a gamma camera after you have re- plete. tient’s body. The amount of radiation is ceived a small injection of an Isotope similar to that used in X-ray. In Nuclear preparation. You will be injected with Medicine the patient is emitting radiation the isotope through a needle in your for a period after the substance is ad- arm. The scan will begin approxi- ministered. For DMSA scans the radia- mately 3 hours after the injection has tion can remain in the body for up to 24 been administered to you. During this hours. Your radiographer will advise waiting period you will be free to leave you on the precautions you will need to the hospital if you wish. apply after your DMSA scan. These precautions should be followed for 24 What is a gamma camera? hours after your scan. A gamma camera detects radiation coming from your body and forms a picture using sophisticated computer programmes. The camera consists of a flat detector which passes over the kidneys. .