What is Nuclear Medicine? Where are we located?

Nuclear Medicine, a subspecialty of Radiology, involves the administration of a low dose radioactive substance for the purpose of generating images of the body anatomy and function.  The administration is either intravenous or by mouth.  The images are generated with the use of a nuclear medicine camera which detects the energy emitted from the administered low-dose radioactive substance.
 
Nuclear Medicine scans are performed at :

Bethesda North Hospital Radiology Department
10500 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati, OH   45242
Outpatient ultrasound examinations are scheduled from 7:30 am to 5:00 p.m.  Monday thru Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 pm to 3:00 p.m.
  
Bethesda Arrow Springs in Lebanon
100 Arrow Springs Blvd.
Lebanon, OH   45036
Outpatient ultrasound examinations are scheduled from 8:00 pm to 4:30 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
   
This exam requires a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled.  The central scheduling number is 569-6777.

How is Nuclear Medicine used ?

Nuclear Medicine images can help diagnose any number of diseases.  Some very common nuclear Medicine tests include :

• Bone scan:  evaluates bones for fracture, infection, arthritis or tumor
• Gall bladder:  scan  assess for patency of gallbladder ducts
• Renal scan:  analyze kidney function
• Cardiac scan:  assess blood flow and function of the heart
• Lung scan:  assess respiratory and blood flow problems
• Gastro-intestinal scan:  assess for bleeding into the bowel

What Nuclear Medicine study should I have?

The type of scan you will have depends on the reason for the exam.  Your doctor, in consultation with a radiologist, will determine the best test for you.

My doctor ordered a specific nuclear medicine scan. What do I do?

For most nuclear medicine tests, no special preparation is necessary.  If preparation is required, you will be informed specifically by your doctor or by the nuclear medicine department. 

After the administration of the low dose radioactive material, depending on the exam specifics, scanning may be performed immediately, on a delayed basis, or a combination of the two.  The radioactive material used depends on what part of the body is to be studied. 

Scanning generally requires the patient to lie down on a scanning table. The "scanner"
or nuclear medicine camera may be above the table, next to it, below the table or a combination.  It is the camera which senses the radioactive energy and forwards the information to a computer console.  The computer console processes the data and generates the images.  These final images are interpreted by the radiologist.

I have had my test. What will happen?

Most of the low dose radioactivity administered for your test will pass out of your body in urine or stool.  Any remaining activity simply disappears through the natural loss of radioactivity over time.  Nuclear medicine studies have been performed for more than fifty years.  There are no known long-term adverse effects from these low dose studies.

A board certified radiologist will interpret your exam and a report will be sent to your doctor.  Any emergent result will be called immediately to your doctor's office.

Nuclear medicine scans are performed at the Bethesda North Hospital and also at Arrow Springs Bethesda North Outpatient facility.  These scans require a prescription from your doctor and must be scheduled.  The Central scheduling phone number is 569-6777.  Nuclear Imaging is performed Monday through Saturday at Bethesda North Hospital and Monday through Friday at Arrow Springs.