Bone Scans are performed in two parts:

• The first part involves the intravenous injection of a radioactive tracer. You should not feel any side effects from the injection. In certain cases, scans are performed initially to assess the blood flow to the requested area. The Nuclear Medicine Scientist will inform you if this is required on the day. Typically, allow 15-20 minutes for the first part of the scan.
• Once the injection has been performed, you will be sent away and are required to return to Sutherland Nuclear Medicine at a given time (typically, 2-3 hours after the injection). This is to allow the injection to travel from the blood stream into the bone. During this time, there are no restrictions for food, drinks, medications and activities (ceasing heavy exertion such as exercise is recommended).
• Upon returning at the given time, scans will be performed. This typically takes between 30 and 45 minutes. During this time, we require you to remain still, and to breathe normally.

There is no preparation required for performing a bone scan. All we require you to do is to bring your referral in with you and to wear comfortable clothing (avoiding any metal if possible).

Myocardial Perfusion (MIBI) scans are performed to assess the blood flow to the heart. The test takes approximately 4 hours in total. The procedure is performed as follows:

• The first part involves the injection of a radioactive tracer intravenously into the patient. This injection has no side effects and does not make the patient feel any different. The injection then requires one hour to circulate through the patient.
• After the one hour period has passed, scans of the heart are then taken for 20-30 minutes looking at the blood flow to the heart when the patient is resting.
• A stress test is then performed. This may be performed on a treadmill or by utilising special medications. This takes approximately 30 minutes.
• After the stress test, the patient is given tea or coffee and some light food (i.e., biscuits). Scans are performed later after the stress test in order to see if there were any changes of blood flow to the heart during the stress test.

Patients are required to perform the following preparation:

• No caffeine (tea, coffee, chocolate, cola or energy drinks) for 24 hours prior to the test.
• Certain medications may need to be stopped. Please ring the department at least 48 hours prior to your test.
• If you are a diabetic, please ring the department at least 24 hours prior to the test.
• No food for 2 hours before the test, but you can continue to drink water.
• Dress comfortably and wear comfortable footwear as you may need to exercise.

Bone Mineral Densitometry tests generally take 20 minutes from start to finish. There is no preparation required for the test. We require you to wear comfortable clothing, avoiding any metal around the waistband if possible. Scans are performed on the lumbar spine and on the left hip as standard, which allows for estimation of the bone density throughout the body. On the day, we will get you to fill out a questionnaire to assess whether you are eligible for bulk billing via Medicare. In most cases, this scan will be bulk-billed. However, in the event the scan cannot be bulk billed, the scan is a $50 flat-fee ($30 if you hold a Pension or Health Care Card).

There is no preparation required for this test. Patients are required to wear comfortable clothing, avoiding any metal around the chest (i.e., zippers, necklaces, alerts) and to bring their referral with them. Typically, this test takes 30-45 minutes to perform. This test is performed in two parts:

• The first part assesses the ventilation (airflow) of the lungs. Patients will breathe in a small amount of a radioactive gas to allow for imaging of the airflow within the lungs. The gas does not have any side effects, although a mild taste may be noted. Once a certain amount of this gas has been breathed in, scans are performed for approximately 8-10 minutes. 
• Immediately following the first part, an injection of a radioactive tracer is administered intravenously to allow for assessment of the blood flow within the lungs. The radioactive tracer does not have any side effects. Scans are performed after injection, for approximately 5-6 minutes.

Once the scan has been performed, the Nuclear Medicine Physician will assess the images immediately to determine whether there is risk of pulmonary embolism. As this is an urgent clinical condition, we strongly recommend performing this scan at the earliest convenience.

Thyroid scans are performed via an injection of a radioactive tracer intravenously. There are no side effects to this injection. This tracer will assess the function of the thyroid, and takes 10 minutes after administration for it to be adequately absorbed by the thyroid tissue. Scans are then performed for 25 minutes. Please allow 45 minutes to 1 hour for this study.

Before performing this scan, we will ask if you are on any thyroid medications currently, and if you have had a CT scan with Iodine contrast within the last 3 months. We also request that if you are to have blood tests and ultrasounds in conjunction with the thyroid scan that these are performed prior to the thyroid scan. Please also inform us which provider they were performed at to allow our Nuclear Medicine Physician more information for their report.

Parathyroid scans are performed by using a radioactive tracer which is injected intravenously. There are no side effects to this injection. The injection takes 10 minutes to collect in the parathyroid tissue, and imaging commences straight after this period. The scans are done in two parts: 

• The first scans take approximately 40 minutes to complete. Typically, the scans in the first part consist of 2D images on one camera and a 3D image on a separate camera.
• Once the first part is complete, there will be a break for approximately 1 hour. During this time, the patient can eat or drink, and the patient will be given a return time by the Nuclear Medicine Scientist.
• Upon returning for the second part, the scans will take approximately 30-40 minutes. The scans consist of 2D images.
• Once the scans are complete, our Nuclear Medicine Physician will review the images and determine if a follow-up Thyroid scan is required. This is a common occurrence due to the small size of the parathyroid gland and its' location behind the thyroid tissue.

There is no special preparation required for this test. We ask that you inform us of the provider used for any blood tests or ultrasounds to aid our Nuclear Medicine Physician in  reporting the scan.

Patients are required to fast for at least 6 hours prior to the HIDA scan (typically, overnight fasting is recommended). The HIDA scan assess the function of the biliary system, including the bile ducts and the gallbladder. The test is performed via intravenous injection of a radioactive tracer. This tracer does not have any side effects. After injection, a one-hour long scan is performed to assess the filling of the gallbladder. If the gallbladder has sufficiently filled, the patient then drinks a meal replacement shake called Ensure Plus, which provokes the body to attempt to empty the gallbladder. A 30 minute scan is then performed to assess the emptying.

In uncommon instances where the gallbladder is not visualised after the one-hour scan, subsequent delayed scans may occur for a maximum of 4 hours from the time of injection. The Nuclear Medicine Scientist will inform you if this is necessary and the times for the subsequent scans.

In cases where the patient does not have a gallbladder, a synthetic hormone known as CCK is given intravenously. After 15 minutes, the radioactive tracer is given, and a one-hour long scan is performed.

There is no preparation required for this scan. We ask that the patient wears comfortable clothing and avoids any metal around the chest if possible (i.e., zippers, necklaces, alerts etc.). A radioactive tracer is given intravenously. There is no side effects to this tracer. Scans of the chest are performed 3 hours after the injection is performed. The Nuclear Medicine Scientist will tell the patient when to return for the scans. The scans take approximately 30 minutes.

We require that the patient is well hydrated, with 1L of water to be consumed within 2 hours of the scan time. Upon arrival, the patient will be cannulated. A radioactive tracer is given intravenously via the cannula, and a 30 minute scan is performed looking at the function of the kidneys. There is no side effects to the radioactive tracer.

In cases where an obstruction may be present, a second injection of a diuretic known as Lasix may be given. After this injection, a second 30 minute scan is performed to see if the kidneys empty after administration. As Lasix is a diuretic, it will provoke the kidneys to produce more urine, and the patient may feel the need to go to the bathroom more often.

We require that the patient is well hydrated, with 1L of water to be consumed within 2 hours of the arrival time. A radioactive tracer is given intravenously, and scans are performed 3 hours after the injection to assess the kidneys. The injection does not have any side effects. The scans take approximately 30 minutes. 

This scan is performed to assess how well the stomach empties over a given period of time. To do this, a sandwich consisting of two slices of toasted white bread, two egg whites and jam is given to the patient. Inside the eggs is a small amount of a radioactive tracer to allow for imaging to occur. This sandwich is consumed and then an initial 1 minute scan is performed immediately afterwards. 4 more scans are performed throughout the day, an hour apart from each other (i.e., 5 scans total, for example: around 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm and 1pm). Please allow 4 and a half hours for this study.

We require that patients have fasted overnight for this study, and that any anti-nausea medications are ceased prior to the study (unless otherwise advised). If the patient is gluten-free or has an egg allergy, please inform the staff when making the appointment so we can arrange an alternative.

This study aims to track the rate at which the colon empties over the course of 5 days. In order to do this, the patient is required to drink a glass of water containing a small amount of a radioactive tracer on the Monday of the test week. A scan is performed on Monday afternoon, and subsequent scans are performed every morning from Tuesday to Friday. The Nuclear Medicine Scientist performing the scans will inform you of the times at the commencement of the study. 

Prior to commencing the test, patients need to fast overnight, and laxatives and other stool modification medicines must be ceased. This fast will continue for 1 hour after the radioactive tracer is consumed. There is no side effects to the radioactive tracer.

Note: there is currently a nation-wide shortage of the tracer required to perform this study. As a result, this scan will be scheduled in advance in order to secure the tracer required.

Iodine-131 capsules are radioactive capsules which can be given to the patient in cases of hyperthyroidism. Typically, patients will require a Thyroid Scan, blood tests and ultrasound to confirm the need for I131 therapy. Prior to this, our Nuclear Medicine Physician will consult with the patient and provide them with the adequate information and instructions for the capsule, and to answer any questions regarding the therapy. Once the therapy is confirmed, the capsule will be ordered and delivered on a separate later day. If you require a I131 capsule, please inform our team and we will contact you.

For all other Nuclear Medicine Scans and Therapies, please contact our staff and we will provide you with the information and instructions you require.