Print this topic

HealthInfo Canterbury

Nuclear medicine imaging

Nuclear medicine imaging is also called nuclear medicine scanning. It provides medical images (pictures) of your body using small amounts of radioactive materials that are injected, swallowed or inhaled.

The radioactive material travels through your body to the area being examined. The radioactive material gives off a type of radiation called gamma rays.

A special camera called a gamma camera picks up the radiation and uses it to produce images of your body. This picture shows a type of gamma camera called a SPECT/CT camera.

A scan can take from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the type of scan. The scans are painless.

This video from the Nuclear Medicine Department of Christchurch Hospital shows a SPECT/CT camera in use.

Nuclear medicine imaging and safety

Radiation doses are kept as low as possible. The radioactive material breaks down and leaves your body quickly so your exposure to radiation is kept as low as possible. Most nuclear medicine scans use no more radiation than an X-ray. Allergic reactions to the radioactive material are very rare.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

Specialists recommend

These links contain clinically complex information, which some people may find useful:

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by clinical lead, Nuclear Medicine, Canterbury DHB. Last reviewed February 2020.

On the next page: Nuclear medicine therapy


See also:

Nuclear medicine thyroid scan

Page reference: 430910

Review key: HISXN-86976