CURRENT MAJOR USES
| Test | Indications | Preparation: | Time |
| BONE | Investigation of tumours (primary and secondary), arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, fractures, sports injuries, osteomyelitis, prosthesis infection or loosening, Paget's disease, avascular necrosis, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, HPOA, metabolic bone disease. | Preparation: Nil (bring available Xrays) | Time: 4 hours
1st part 45 mins break 3-4 hours 2nd part 1 hour |
| 1. MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION SCAN (SESTAMIBI) | Diagnosis/management/prognosis of ischaemic heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Viability assessment. | Preparation: Fast minium 4 hours, (water allowed), adjust medications | Time: up to 5 hours |
| 2. GATED BLOOD POOL STUDY | Left and right ventricular size and function (ejection fraction, wall motion). | Preparation: Nil | Time: 1 1/2 hours |
| BONE DENSITOMETRY AND BODY COMPOSITION | 1. Quantitative assessment of bone mineral
density in investigation and management of osteoporosis.
2. Body composition studies |
Preparation: Nil | Time: 20 minutes |
| LUNG VENTILATION / PERFUSION | 1.Suspected pulmonary embolism. 2.Pre-operative assessment for lung volume reduction surgery | Preparation: Current chest Xray | Time: 1 hour |
| GALLIUM | 1. Staging/management of tumours (esp.
lymphoma)
2. Investigation of suspected infection |
Preparation: Nil | Time: IV injection Day 1. Scanning at 48-72 hours and subsequently, if necessary (scan time 1-2 hours) |
| LABELLED WHITE BLOOD CELLS | Infection/inflammation - joint prosthesis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetic foot | Preparation: Nil | Time: 5 hours |
| THYROID AND RADIOIODINE THERAPY | 1. Investigation of thyroid nodules, thyroiditis,
thyrotoxicosis, thyroid cancer.
2. Radioiodine therapy for thyrotoxicosis and thyroid cancer. |
Preparation: No thyroid or iodine containing compounds | Time: 30-45 minutes for scan |
| GALL BLADDER/BILIARY (HIDA) | Cholecystitis, biliary flow, GB ejection fraction, post cholecystectomy syndrome. | Preparation: Fast 4 hours | Time: 2 hours |
| RENAL | Renal blood flow and differential function, renal artery stenosis, urinary obstruction, renal scarring. | Preparation: Patient should be well hydrated | Time: 1-5 hours |
| LIVER/SPLEEN | Focal disease (tumour, abscess, cyst, trauma), chronic liver disease, portal hypertension. Size and position of liver and spleen. | Preparation: Nil | Time: 45 minutes |
| LIVER BLOOD POOL | Specific for hepatic haemangioma | Preparation: Nil | Time: 3 hours |
| CEREBRAL PERFUSION (CERETEC) | Alzheimerís disease, epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, stroke and other cerebrovascular events. | Preparation: Nil | Time: 2 1/2hours |
| LYMPHOSCINTIGRAPHY
(include Sentinel Node Imaging) |
Diagnosis of lymphoedema/pre-operative lymphatic drainage assessment of breast cancer and melanoma/lymph leakage | Preparation: Nil | Time: 6 hours
(1-3 hours for sentinel node imaging) |
| C-14 UREA BREATH TEST | Diagnosis and follow-up of helicobacter pylori infection (peptic ulcer disease) | Preparation: Fast overnight. No antibiotics for 4 weeks | Time: 30 minutes |
| Sentinel Node | Nil | 1-4 hours | |
| Oesophageal motility | 1/2 hour | ||
| Gastric Emptying | Fast 4 hours prior | 2 hours | |
| Salivary | Fast 2 hours prior | 1 1/2 hours | |
| GIT Blood Loss | Nil | upto 5 hours | |
| Parathyroid | Nil | 4 1/2 hours | |
| CSF Studies | Nil | upto 5 hours | |
| Thallium in Tumours | Nil | 1 1/2 hours | |
| Co PET | Staging of cancer eg. non small cell lung cancer, lymphoma. Assessment of recurrence: bowel carcinoma | Preparation: |