Topic Overview
Nuclear medicine scans use a special camera (gamma) to take
pictures of tissues and organs in the body after a
radioactive tracer (radionuclide or radioisotope) is
put in a vein in the arm and is absorbed by the tissues and organs. The
radioactive tracer shows the activity and function of the tissues or
organs.
Each type of tissue that may be scanned (including bones,
organs, glands, and blood vessels) uses a different radioactive compound as a
tracer. The tracer remains in the body temporarily before it is passed in the
urine or stool (feces).
For more information, see the topic:
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerMyo Min Han, MD - Nuclear Medicine
Current as ofOctober 14, 2016