Nuclear Medicine Procedures
- Bone scan (whole body or limited)
- Must arrive at your appointment time for injection (this should take about 10 minutes). Leave and then return for a 30 minute scan in approximately 3 hours. No other prep necessary.
- Bone scan (three phase)
- must arrive at your appointment time for an injection and a 30 minute scan. Leave and then return in approximately three hours for the last 30 minute scan. No other prep necessary.
- Gastric emptying study
- No food or drink for six hours prior to the exam. You must bring a cup of scrambled eggs or oatmeal with you (no other foods are acceptable). This test takes 90 minutes.
- Hida scan
- Nothing to eat or drink for six hours prior to test. This exam takes 90 minutes.
- Renal scan (baseline)
- No prep necessary. This exam takes approximately 45 minutes.
- Muga scan
- No food or drink after midnight. Arrive at your appointment time for an injection and return in one hour for a 20 minute scan.
- Exercise only stress test (EST)
- Arrive at your appointment time for exam. You should wear comfortable clothing and shoes. This exam takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- Nuclear stress test (MPS, PST)
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. No coffee on the morning of the test. It is okay to take your regular medication on the morning of the exam except for nitroglycerin or insulin. You should wear comfortable clothing and shoes. This test takes approximately four hours to complete. You will get a break to go out for breakfast before the second half of the test begins.
- Thyroid uptake
- Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. Arrive at your appointment time and you will be given a radioactive pill you will leave and return in approximately four hours for a 30 minute scan. You will return the next morning for your final 30 minute scan.
- Thyroid therapy (I-131)
- Nothing to eat or drink four hours prior to the test. Arrive at your appointment time and you will be given a radioactive pill. You will be instructed as to the precautions you should exercise for the next 48 hours by the nuclear technologist.
CT Scan
| Name of Test | Test Takes | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| CT HEAD/BRAIN | 15-30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| CT CHEST | 15-30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| CT EXTREMITIES | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT FACIAL BONES | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT IAC | 15-30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| SINUS | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT SOFT TISSUE NECK | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| CT OF SPINE | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT STONE STUDY | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT ABDOMEN ORGAN ONLY (i.e. kidneys, liver, adrenals, spleen, pancreas, etc.) | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR AND NO ORAL PREP |
| CT ABDOMEN * | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| CT PELVIS BONE STUDY (i.e. si joints, sacrum, or coccyx) | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CT PELVIS ** | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
| CT ABDOMEN AND PELVIS ** | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 4 HOURS PRIOR |
* PICK UP ORAL PREP AT HEALTHSTAR DIAGNOSTIC OFFICE. DRINK 1 BOTTLE OF CONTRAST 2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT TIME. ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY TO BEGIN YOUR SECOND BOTTLE OF ORAL PREP. THE ORAL PREP IS VANILLA FLAVORED AND THE TASTE IS USUALLY IMPROVED BY REFRIGERATION. YOU MAY USE OTHER LIQUIDS TO CHANGE THE FLAVOR (i.e. chocolate syrup, juice, cola, coffee, etc. but do not add more than to the top of the bottle).
** PICK UP ORAL PREP AT HEALTHSTAR DIAGNOSTIC OFFICE. DRINK FIRST DRINK FIRST BOTTLE OF ORAL PREP AT BEDTIME THE NIGHT BEFORE IF YOU HAVE A AM APPOINTMENT OR SIX HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR TEST IF YOU HAVE A PM APPOINTMENT. DRINK THE SECOND BOTTLE OF ORAL PREP 2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT TIME. YOU MUST ARRIVE 15 MINUTES EARLY TO BEGIN YOUR THIRD BOTTLE OF ORAL PREP. THE ORAL PREP IS VANILLA FLAVORED AND THE TASTE IS USUALLY IMPROVED BY REFRIGERATION. YOU MAY USE OTHER LIQUIDS TO CHANGE THE FLAVOR (i.e. chocolate syrup, juice, cola, coffee, etc. but do not add more than to the top of the bottle).
Ultrasound
| Name of Test | Test Takes | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| AORTA DUPLEX | 15 MINUTES NO PREP | |
| ABDOMEN COMPLETE | 30 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 8 HOURS PRIOR |
| ABDOMEN SINGLE ORGAN (i.e. gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, liver, etc.) | 15 MINUTES | NO FOOD OR DRINK 8 HOURS PRIOR |
| ABDOMEN SINGLE ORGAN (i.e. kidneys/renals) | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| BLADDER | 30 MINUTES | DRINK 64 OZ OF WATER 3 hours prior, bladder must be extremely full at arrival |
| THYROID | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| BREAST | 30 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| TESTICULAR | 30 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| VENOUS DOPPLER | 30 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| ABI | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| ECHO | 30-45 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| ARTERIAL STUDY WITH SEGMENTAL PRESSURES | 30 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| CAROTID DUPLEX | 20 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| EXTREMITY NON VASCULAR | 15 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| NEEDLE GUIDED BIOPS (i.e. breast, thyroid) | 30-45 MINUTES | NO PREP |
| PELVIC (not sexually active or older women) | 30 MINUTES | DRINK 64 OZ OF WATER 3 hours prior, bladder must be extremely full at arrival |
| PELVIC ENDOVAGINAL | 30 MINUTES | NO PREP |