FAQs

No. A driver is not necessary. Upon completing the test you should feel the same way you did when you arrived for the test.

Yes. The radiation can be detectable in your body for a number of days after your test. Travel is still possible; however, please inform the technologist of your travel intentions. We will be happy to provide you with the appropriate documentation to verify that you have undergone a nuclear medicine exam.

A bone scan looks at the function of your bones as opposed to an x-ray which looks at the structure of bone and surrounding tissue.

No. There is no preparation necessary. Continue to take all medications as per usual.

The radioactive material is injected into the blood during the first part of the test but it takes a number of hours for the injection to be picked up by the bones.

Part 1 takes approximately 15 minutes. Part 2 will take anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes depending on your medical history and where you are having pain.

The time required between the two parts depends on factors such as the body part being imaged, the presence of underlying disease, and on camera availability. Each patient will be assessed individually by the technologist during Part 1 and given a time to return that is 2 – 5 hours later.

Drinking extra helps flush the radiation which is not picked up by the bones out of your body. It also improves image quality by enhancing contrast between the bones and soft tissues. Please drink at least 750 – 1000 ml (3 – 4 cups) of fluid before returning for Part 2.

If you would rather drink something other than water, that’s fine. It’s the volume of fluid that is consumed that is important, not the type.

A myocardial perfusion test is a method of determining if there are any blockages present in the vessels (arteries) that supply blood to your heart. This is accomplished by looking at the blood supply to your heart muscle during both rest and stress.

During Part 1 we look at the blood flow to your heart muscle as you are resting. A small amount of radiation will be injected into the vein of your arm. We then wait for 30-45 minutes and then take images using a gamma camera. The imaging takes 20 minutes.

No. There is no preparation for Part 1 and you should continue taking all medications as per usual. Please bring a list of your medications with you as you may need to discontinue certain medications for Part 2 (stress day).

You will exercise on a treadmill or you will be given a drug called Persantine. A small amount of radiation will be injected into the vein of your arm while at stress. We will then wait 30-45 minutes and take images using a gamma camera. The imaging takes 20 minutes.

Yes. You will need to fast for at least 4 hours prior to your test and avoid caffeine for at least 12 hours. This includes decaffeinated coffee/tea, as it still contains enough caffeine to interfere with testing. Also, you should not smoke or chew gum for 2 hours prior to your test.

It is important that you fast for 3 hours prior to your scheduled test. Eat a light breakfast and take your insulin 3-4 hours prior to your test. It is also advisable to bring a snack with you.

Possibly. Some medications may need to be discontinued, therefore it is very important that you bring a list of your medications with you when you arrive for Part 1 (rest day). The technologist will inform you if there are any medications that need to be discontinued and for how long.

In order to achieve good images for Part 2 we need to allow enough time to pass for the radioactive material from Part 1 to leave your body. Although it is possible to have both parts done on the same day, the 2 day protocol is the preferred choice as the image quality is best when each part of the test is performed on a separate day

You will walk on a treadmill until your heart rate has reached a pre-determined level. The treadmill starts off very slow and gets a little higher and faster every 3 minutes until your heart rate is elevated to the appropriate level. Generally this takes between 5 and 10 minutes of exercise.

A drug that dilates your blood vessels is injected through an intravenous (IV) line to increase blood flow to your heart muscle. This is the method used for patients who are unable to perform physical exercise.

Sometimes patients will experience headache, flushing, shortness of breath, nausea or chest discomfort following the injection of Persantine. These effects only last about 5 – 10 minutes and then they are reversed using a drug called Aminophylline.

Drug induced stress tests are typically used for patients who are unable to exercise due to physical inability or due to an underlying medical condition. Your doctor will recommend the method best for you and our on-site cardiologist will assess you prior to beginning the stress test.

Yes, but only in exceptionally rare instances. A cardiologist and a technologist will be present during your test and your vital signs will be continuously monitored. Emergency equipment is immediately available to deal with any unusual circumstances and all staff involved in your testing are highly skilled and trained.

Please send an email to nuclearmedicine@mmimaging.com. Please note that this address is for general inquires only and we cannot give out test results or answer questions about your report by email or over the phone.