BRAIN SCAN
Nuclear Medicine Brain Scan
An imaging exam using nuclear medicine can help your physician see and evaluate brain blood flow and function. By using a small amount of radioactive material, this specialized scan creates detailed images that show how blood circulates through your brain and how different areas are functioning.
This information is helpful in the diagnosis of conditions such as dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, as well as seizure disorders, stroke, brain tumors, and movement disorders. Nuclear medicine brain scans provide functional insights that often complement structural imaging like MRI or CT, giving your healthcare team a more complete picture of your brain health.
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Frequently Asked Questions
An IV line will be placed in your hand or arm to administer the radioactive scanning drug. Depending on the reason for the scan, you may rest quietly in a low-lit room for 45 minutes before your scan. Sometimes there will be a three-hour delay from the injection time to the scan time. You may leave during these three hours and return for your scan at the time givento you by your technologist.
The imaging portion of the scan takes approximately 30 minutes. However, depending on the reason for your scan, you may need to rest in a low-lit room for 45 minutes after receiving the injection, or there may be a three-hour delay between injection and scanning.
Yes. The radioactive scanning drug used in nuclear medicine brain scans is safe and involves only a small amount of radiation. The material is administered through an IV line and is specially designed to be detected by the gamma camera.
During the scan, you’ll lie still while a technologist positions a gamma camera near your head to capture images of your brain. The camera does not touch you and the procedure is painless.