Nuclear Medicine (NM)

As with most radiological procedures, there may be preparations that will be required to be done by you. Below are some preparations needed to ensure a successful and smooth NM scan appoinment.


APPOINTMENT RESCHEDULING:
For Meckel’s scan and gastro=intestinal (GI) bleed studies only
If you had gone for a barium study 5 days before your NM appointment, do call our appointment centre and reschedule as there may still be remaining traces of the contrast media used in the previous study in your body.

For thyroid and parathyroid studies only
If you had gone for any Computed Tomography (CT) scans with radiological contrast, you should only do your NM scan after 2-3 months. Do inform any of our staff and reschedule your appointment


FASTING:
For gastro-intestinal motility studies only
You are required to fast for 4-6 hours before the scan.


PATIENT POSITION:
Majority of the scans are done while you are lying supine. There are some that may require you to stand during the procedure or may need you to be in a combination of positions.

Some scans can be done sitting up if you are unable to lie supine. However, not all scans are able to be done in an alternative position so do discuss with your requesting doctors should you have difficulty in any of the above positions before scheduling an appointment.


PREGNANCY:
Do inform your doctor or any of our staff before scheduling an appointment should you be/ are unsure if you are pregnant.


MEDICATIONS:
For most NM scans, regular prescribed medications can be continued as per normal. However, if you are coming for a thyroid/parathyroid NM scan, some medications are to be stopped prior to scan. You will be given more information about this when your doctor is scheduling your appointment.

EMPTYING OF BLADDER:
Do empty your bladder before the start of your scan.


OUTFIT:
You may be required to change into the hospital gown, so do wear comfortable attires that are easily removed.


SCAN PROCEDURE:

• ​A small amount of the radioactive isotope will be injected, inhaled or taken orally by the patient. You may be required to wait for a period of time before the images will be taken.
• In some scans, a longer waiting time is required after the isotope introduction. This is due to the slower rate at which the isotope reaches the targeted organ for the scan, and therefore may take up to several hours even before the first image is taken.
• During most scans, you will be lying supine on the x-ray table, and the Gamma camera may come very close to your body to obtain good quality images.
• The NM scan duration ranges from an hour to several hours. Do check in with our trained staff who will be accompanying at parts of the scan regarding the scan duration.
  

​Other than the following-mentioned, you may resume normal activities after the scan.

1. AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH BABIES AND PREGNANT WOMEN:
Do try to maintain a distance of >1 metre with babies, small children and pregnant women after your scan. This is to prevent exposing them to unnecessary radiation from the remaining radioactive isotopes that will slowly be removed from your body naturally.

2. BREASTFEEDING:
Breastfeeding women should avoid breastfeeding for at least 12 hours after the scan. Do collect and discuss the milk during this 12 hours as it may be contaminated with radiation.

​ 3. CLEARING THE TRACES OF RADIOACTIVITY:

• ​Drink plenty of water after the scan to remove the radioactive isotopes from your body.
• Flush the toilet twice and wash your hands thoroughly to avoid radiation contamination.​

1. If I have a previous allergy to radiological contrast, can I still undergo an NM scan?

Yes, you may. Radioactive isotopes do not work the same way as other radiological contrast, and should be safe for you even if you have a known allergy to contrast media.