Nuclear Medicine

Accredited Facility

Nuclear Medicine procedures often provide the physician with important information to detect and treat a disease early in its course. It is rare to find Nuclear Medicine departments in the clinic setting.

We are proud to offer this specialty to our patients, eliminating the need for them to travel outside the area for their scans.

Call our front desk at
905-985-9727 to book an appointment.

Nuclear Medicine uses radioactive materials known as radiopharmaceuticals or tracers to diagnose and treat disease.
These radiopharmaceuticals do not have side effects (NOT dye).
Radiopharmaceuticals emit gamma rays that are detected externally by a special nuclear medicine gamma camera.
The radiopharmaceuticals do not last long in your body, thus keeping radiation exposure low.

Nuclear Medicine gamma cameras do NOT emit any radiation. They are simply detectors that capture the gamma rays emitted by a patient.

Nuclear Medicine studies can measure the degree of organ function, eliminating the need for other more expensive and more invasive tests or surgeries.

General Nuclear Imaging

Bone scan

One Day Study , Done in Two-Parts ; no preparation required
(please anticipate your test to be approximately 3-4 ½ hours total)

Whole body
Single site

Hepatobiliary scan

Nothing to eat 4 hrs prior to exam.
HIDA scan – approx. 1-2 hrs

V/Q Scan

One Day Study ; No preparation required
LUNG scan – approx. 2 hrs

Renal scan

One Day Study ; Stay Hydrated (drink 1L of water within 2 hours of test) Approx. 1 ½ hours

Salivary gland scan

One Day Study ; no preparation required
Approx 1 ½ hours

Gallium scan

*A Bone Scan must be completed prior to a Gallium Scan

Three Day Test
Booked Monday; Return Tues & Wed
Booked Tuesday; Return Wed & Thurs

Day 1 & Day 2 – Approx 15 min
Day 3 – Approx 1 hr

RBC Liver scan

One Day Study, Done in Two-Parts (no preparation required)
(please anticipate your test to be approximately 2 ½ – 3 hrs total)

Parathyroid scan

One Day Study ; no preparation required
(please anticipate your test to be approximately 3 hrs total)

Thyroid Uptake & Scan

*speak with staff if you are currently any thyroid medication

Two Day Study ; Typically booked in Wed & Thursday.

Day 1
Approx 15 min ; nothing to eat or drink 4 hrs prior to test
– no x-ray procedures within 4 weeks where contrast (dye) was
administered

Day 2
Approx 1 hr ; no preparation required

Cardiac Nuclear Imaging

Exercise perfusion imaging (sestamibi)

Two Day Test – typically booked on Mon and Tues.
(please anticipate your test to take between 1 ½ – 2 hours each day)

Resting radionuclide ventriculogram (MUGA)

One Day Test – typically booked on Thurs
(please anticipate your test to be approximately 1 ½ hours)

Persantine perfusion imaging (sestamibi)

Two Day Test – typically booked on Mon and Tues.
(please anticipate your test to take between 1 ½ – 2 hours each day)

Learn more about the Persantine Perfusion Scan

Patient Preparation

PErsantine Perfusion (sestamibi) Two Day Test

Please bring medications or list of medications on Day 1.

Light breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2 but no caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate) for 24 hours prior to Day 2 including decaffinated tea/coffee & Tylenol #3

Biliary scan

Nothing to eat or drink prior to the scan

thyroid uptake & scan

If permitted by your doctor, stop Thyroxine 5 weeks before your test and stop Cytomel 3 weeks before your test.

No intravenous contrast material (CT, IVP or angiogram) for 5 week prior to your test

Nothing to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to the scan

Exercise perfusion (sestamibi) two day test

Please bring medications or list of medications on Day 1

Light breakfast on Day 1 and Day 2 but no caffeine (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate) for 24 hours prior to Day 2 including decaffinated tea/coffee & Tylenol #3

Be prepared to exercise (walk or run) on the treadmill – wear a T-shirt, shorts or sweatpants and running shoes

diabetics

If on oral medication, don’t eat breakfast or take your diabetes medication the morning of the test. After the test, you may eat and take your medication.

If on Insulin, on the morning of the test, take half the normal dose and eat a light breakfast.

If permitted by your doctor, the following medications should be stopped prior to your test (only if you are having an exercise test)

24 HOURS PRIOR
Metoprolol (Lopressor)
Acebutolol (Monitan; Sectral)
Diltiazem (Cardizem; Tiazac)
Carvedilol (Coreg)
Bisoprolol (Monocor)
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Vardenafil (Levitra)

48 HOURS PRIOR
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Nadolol (Corgard)

72 HOURS PRIOR
Tadalafil (Cialis)

Please Arrive 10 minutes Prior To Your Appointment Time.
We Are Committed To Performing Your Examination On Time.
We May Have To Reschedule Your Appointment Should You Arrive Late.