Additional Information for Patients who have received an appointment.
Your Nuclear Medicine Investigation
Your doctor would like you to come to our department for a Nuclear Medicine imaging investigation. This leaflet should answer some of the questions you may have. If after reading this leaflet and your appointment letter you are still unsure about anything, please feel free to contact us.
What is Involved in Nuclear Medicine Imaging?
Our imaging tests have two parts: for most tests we will give you a small dose of radioactivity injected into a vein in your arm or hand, but for other tests you may be asked to swallow or inhale the radioactivity. We will then take pictures using a ‘gamma camera’. This allows us to see how different parts of your body are functioning.
Some tests may be performed on a SPECT-CT scanner. This may include X-Rays to give additional information
Will it Hurt?
The injection might hurt a little.
It feels similar to having a blood sample taken. You should not feel any ill effects from the injection, it does not make you sleepy.
It does not prevent you from driving your car or returning to work.
What happens at my appointment
We may take pictures straight after your injection or ask you to return later. In some cases we may ask you to come back more than once so we can see how your body handles the radioactivity over time.
Your appointment letter will give information about the time we may need for your test – please check this carefully; it is important that you allow enough time for your whole appointment.
If there is more than an hour between different parts of your test you will be able to leave the department during this period. You can also eat and drink as normal between the different parts of the test unless our staff tell you otherwise.
When the pictures are taken you may have to lie on a bed, sit on a chair or stand very still. You will not usually need to take off any clothes, but will be asked to remove metal items such as jewellery or belt buckles.
Is the Radioactivity Dangerous?
The injection is not dangerous, and the amount of radiation you get is small. We only carry out these tests when the expected benefit to you is greater than any risk associated with the radiation involved.
Direct Line: – (0191) 282 4038
Do I need to prepare for the appointment?
Your appointment letter will give any special instructions for your test.
If no instructions are given in your letter then no preparation is needed.
Do I need to do anything afterwards?
You should drink plenty and visit the toilet frequently for the rest of the day. This will help flush the radioactivity out of your body. Unless you are advised otherwise by our staff or in your appointment letter there are no restrictions on what you can do after your appointment.
Patients are often concerned about contact with others, especially children, after a nuclear medicine imaging investigation – for most of the scans we do here there is no need for concern, so unless our staff tell you otherwise just carry on as normal.
What happens to the results?
A report will be sent to the doctor or specialist nurse who asked for the test.
We are not able to discuss results with you on the day.
Any more questions?
Please feel free to phone before your appointment or ask staff before they give you the radioactive injection.
Direct Line: – (0191) 282 4038
or Hospital Switchboard: – (0191) 2336161 ext 24038/24958
Getting to Hospital & Parking information
Parking information may be found here: Getting to hospital – Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk)
How to find us
The Nuclear Medicine Department is located on Level 2 of the Leazes Wing.
Our department is signposted Nuclear Medicine and Medical Physics (or Medical Physics).
It is easiest to find the department if you enter the hospital from the Leazes Wing entrance on Richardson Road but can also be accessed from the New Victoria Wing.
Please note the two wings of the hospital do not connect on level 2 – from the Victoria Wing you will need to follow signs to Leazes Wing on level 3 before coming down to level 2.
