Radionuclide Scan
When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, it is important to distinguish what stage the illness is in. The later the stage, the harder it will be to predict prognosis and the patient is more likely to respond negatively to treatment and medication. There are different types of screening procedures that can be completed in order to determine the location of the illness, if it has spread and what stage it is in.
The scan is usually performed in an outpatient center or hospital radiology department. There are two types of radioactive substances that are given to the patient so that the images on from the scan come out clearly and doctors can determine what the problem may be. In the first case, if radioactive iodine is given, it is administered to the patient by a tasteless capsule or liquid form. The second type that could be given to the patient is radioactive technetium. This type of radioactive substance is injected into the patient. After a specific duration of time, doctors are able to see internal images of the patient clearly, but this depends on which type of substance was used. As the scan begins to take place, the patient is laid on their back, and the radionuclide scanner is positioned above the area that may potentially be in question. The whole procedure takes 30 to 60 minutes; depending on the amount of images the doctor must obtain to achieve solid analysis.
Although there is no pain or discomfort while this procedure is taking place, the patient should make an appointment for a consultation before proceeding with this type of scan. In the consultation the doctor and patient may discuss the type of medications that are currently being taken by the patient that could potentially affect the results of the scan. Also, certain types of vitamins tend to carry a large amount of iodine. Before the procedure, the patient should discontinue use until their scan has been complete. The patient may continue to take their other medications several weeks after the scan has been complete. If this procedure to diagnose a certain illness is not a right fit for the patient, there are other methods to determining the extent to which the person's illness is.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
