Our Nuclear Medicine scans are performed in the Physics Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
There are many different types of nuclear medicine scan. The majority involve an injection of a very small volume of a radioactive substance, which is then taken up by different parts of the body. We obtain pictures of the distribution of the radioactive substance in your body using a special camera called a ‘Gamma camera’.

There is usually a delay between the injection and taking pictures with the Gamma camera. The camera acquires pictures slowly over 20-30 minutes, although it may be a little faster depending upon the type of scan that you are having. The Gamma camera is very quiet and you are not enclosed during the scan. The delay between the injection and taking the pictures is very important in allowing us to get the best information from the scan.

You will be sent clear information on how long you will need to allow for your scan. This may be up to four hours and sometimes even longer, although you will not be expected to stay in the Physics Department for all of this time. For most scans, you are allowed to eat and drink normally.

Once the scan has been performed, a Berkshire Imaging Consultant Radiologist will interpret the images. Whilst the Radiographer (person who performs the scan) can reassure you that the appropriate images have been obtained, they will not be able to give you a report straight after the scan.

For more information and to see an account written by a patient who had one of these scans, please go to: Going for Nuclear Medicine