Radioactive Isotope Stress Test
Hepatobiliary Scan/Pipida Scan
Bone Scans
Renal Scan
PET/CT Scan
Spinal Tap
Lumbar Spinal Tap
Myelogram
Radioactive Isotope Stress Test
Offered at Baptist, South Miami and Homestead Hospitals.
What is it?
Your physician has ordered a stress test of your heart using a radioactive isotope to take pictures of your heart. A radioactive isotope stress test is used to compare the blood flow to the heart at rest and at stress.
There is no reaction to the isotope. Different techniques are available to your physician to perform this test depending on your diagnosis, clinical history, and physical condition.
What is the general procedure for a radioactive isotope stress test?
In most cases, your exam will require you to have a stress test either with exercise or with a medicine that mimics the effects of exercise. Pictures of your heart will be taken during two imaging sessions. Routinely, the first nuclear medicine imaging session is done before your stress test and is called the "resting" scan. The second imaging session is done after your stress test and is called the "stress" scan. For each imaging session, you lie on a table and the nuclear medicine camera rotates around your chest taking several pictures of your heart. The camera tracks the isotopes as it moves.
For the resting scan, the radioactive isotope is administered intravenously 5-30 minutes before the actual scan, depending on the technique chosen by your physician. After your resting scan is complete, our staff will prepare you for the stress portion of your test.
For your stress test, a 12-lead ECG will be placed on your chest. A 12-lead ECG uses sticky pads and wires to monitor your heart during the stress test. A nuclear medicine technologist will administer the radioactive isotope intravenously while you are exercising. After the stress test you will have the stress scan. The technologist will start the stress scan from 30-90 minutes after the radioactive isotope is administered. The amount of time will depend on the type of stress test your physician has chosen. In some instances the stress portion of your exam will be done first and you may be asked to return 3-4 hours later for the resting portion of your exam.
Again, depending upon your diagnosis, clinical history and physical condition, your doctor may choose from several different radioactive isotopes and the technique may differ slightly. There is no reaction to any of the isotopes used.
Please note that on many occasions the radiologist (the physician who interprets the scan) may request that you return 24-48 hours for another resting scan. This is completely normal and is requesting it only to provide your physician with a more comprehensive report of the exam.
The radioactive isotope is eliminated from your system within a few days.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
Please do not eat or drink 4-6 hours prior to the test. You may also be asked to refrain from taking certain medications prior to the exam. Please check with your physician. Wear comfortable shoes and a two-piece outfit for the test. The technologist will want to know the medications you are taking, if you have diabetes, or have knee or hip problems, asthma or lung disease. Also inform the technologist if you have had a stroke or history of other vascular diseases and if you are pregnant or nursing.
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Hepatobiliary Scan/Pipida Scan
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, Homestead and South Miami Hospitals, and Baptist Medical Plaza at Palmetto Bay.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered a hepatobiliary scan or a pipida scan. This is a scan in Nuclear Medicine that looks at the gallbladder and biliary tree. The scan is done for obstruction (as in gallstones).
What is the general procedure for a Hepatobiliary Scan/Pipida Scan?
You will be injected intravenously with a small amount of a radioactive isotope. There is no reaction to this isotope. You will then lie on a table and the nuclear medicine camera will be above you. The camera tracks the isotope as it moves through your system. Scanning time is a minimum of one hour. The radiologist (the doctor who interprets the scan) may ask for additional views. This is completely normal and is requested to provide your physician with a more comprehensive report.
The isotope leaves your body within hours.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
Please do not eat, drink or chew gum 6 hours prior to the scan. You may also be asked to refrain from taking certain narcotic medications prior to the scan. Please check with your physician.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
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Bone Scans
Offered at Baptist, Doctors, South Miami and Homestead Hospitals, and Baptist Medical Plaza at Palmetto Bay.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered a bone scan. This scan helps your physician to assess metastatic bone disease, osteomyelitis, inflammatory diseases (such as arthritis or Paget's disease), musculoskeletal trauma, and in evaluating response to a therapeutic program (as in radiation therapy and chemotherapy).
What is the general procedure for a bone scan?
You will be injected intravenously with a small amount of a radioactive isotope. There will be no reaction to the isotope. Depending on your diagnosis and clinical history, the technique used for the scan may vary slightly.
You will be asked to return about 3-5 hours after the injection for the balance of the scan. You will also be asked to drink plenty of fluids, which will help distribute the isotope. This also helps to eliminate the isotope from your system. You may empty your bladder as needed unless otherwise instructed.
When you return for pictures, you will be asked to void immediately prior to the scan and remove all metal objects, such as coins, keys and belt buckles. Next, you will lie on a table with the nuclear medicine camera above and below you. This detector will move slowly down the length of the table, simultaneously creating an image of your skeleton from the front and the back.
Please note that on many occasions, the radiologist (the physician who interprets the scan) may request additional "close up" views, such as SPECT, in which the camera moves in a circular motion around a specific area, or X-rays. This is completely normal and is only requested only to provide your physician with a more comprehensive report of the exam.
Please continue to drink fluids and empty your bladder so that the isotope is eliminated from your body.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
Drink plenty of fluids. Please do not wear clothing with any metallic objects.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
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Renal Scan
Offered at Baptist, South Miami, Doctors and Homestead Hospitals.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered a renal scan. This scan helps your physician assess renal (kidney) disease, renal hypertension, obstruction, pelvic cancer and suspected renal trauma. This scan may also be ordered if you are allergic to iodine and cannot have procedures in which iodine is used.
What is the general procedure for a renal scan?
Depending upon the diagnosis, clinical history and physical condition, the technique used for the scan may vary.
You will be asked to change into a gown. In some instances a diuretic (Lasix) is administered during the scan and the need to void becomes urgent. For your comfort, you will be asked to empty your bladder just prior to beginning the study. Next, you will be asked to lie on a table with the camera positioned underneath the table. (The kidneys are better visualized from the back.) You will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive isotope intravenously while you are lying on the table. There will be no reaction to this isotope. The nuclear medicine camera will trace the isotope as it moves through your kidneys. Depending on the diagnosis and clinical history, the scan can last 1-2 hours. This variation in length of time is completely normal and is dependent upon the diagnosis and history.
Please contact your physician within 7-10 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
You will be asked to drink extra fluids prior to coming in for the exam, unless your physician has restricted your fluid intake. Please check with your physician.
If you are taking diuretics such as Lasix, blood pressure medication or medications known as ACE inhibitors, your physician may ask you to stop taking them 24–48 hours prior to the exam. Please check with your physician at least 48 hours prior to your appointment. No other preparation is necessary.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
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PET/CT Scan
Offered at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals, and Baptist Medical Plazas at Miami Lakes and Palmetto Bay.
What Is It?
Your physician has ordered a PET/CT scan. This scan will aid your physician in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and such brain abnormalities as Alzheimer's disease. By combining the two imaging tools (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography), we are able to get more detailed images that show both the location and the metabolic activity of any suspected abnormality.
What is the general procedure for a PET/CT scan?
You will first be intravenously injected with a small amount of a radioactive isotope. There will be no reaction to this isotope. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar level will be tested before the isotope is injected. Depending upon your diagnosis, clinical history and physical condition, the technique used for the scan may vary. Please allow 2-3 hours for your exam.
Please contact your physician within 3-5 days to discuss the results.
Preparation
If you are taking Glucophage and/or Glucovance for diabetes and your scan requires IV (intravenous) iodine contrast, you must refrain from taking this medication from one hour prior to your appointment until 48 hours after your scan. If you have any questions regarding your medication, please contact your physician.
If your physician requires the use of IV contrast material, please let your doctor and the technologist know if you have any known allergies or a previous reaction to iodine contrast.
You will be asked to refrain from eating six hours prior to the exam. This does include gum, candy, and or mint. Oral contrast will be provided by the facility at time of appointment; unless otherwise indicated by the scheduling department.
The technologist will need to know if there is any possibility that you are pregnant or if you are nursing.
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Spinal Tap
Offered at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals.
What Is It?
A spinal tap is a procedure that involves removing fluid through a needle from the upper part of your spine.
Preparation
You must drink plenty of clear, non-alcoholic liquids the night before the exam.
Patient must be off blood thinners. Check with your doctor. (Doctor must be a staff physician.)
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Lumbar Spinal Tap
Offered at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals.
What Is It?
A lumbar spinal tap is a procedure that involves removing fluids through a needle from the lower part of your spine.
Preparation
Drink plenty of liquids six hours prior to the test.
Patient must be off blood thinners. Check with your doctor. (Doctor must be a staff physician.)
If you have any questions about these instructions or have any other concerns, contact your doctor immediately.
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Myelogram
Offered at Baptist and South Miami Hospitals.
What Is It?
A myelogram is a differential study of cellular elements present in bone marrow.
Preparation
You must drink clear, non-alcoholic liquids the night before the exam. Plan to arrive two hours prior to your appointment time.
After the exam, you may not operate a vehicle, so be sure to arrange for transportation home.
Patient must be off blood thinners. Check with your doctor. (Doctor must be a staff physician.)
If you have any questions about these instructions or have any other concerns, contact your doctor immediately.
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- The equipment used for your procedure requires a very cold environment. Please bring a sweater.
- Please leave your valuables at home.
- If you have any questions about these instructions or have any other concerns, contact your doctor immediately.
Disclaimer: These instructions are general guidelines. If your physician gives you more detailed directions, follow his/her advice.