Nuclear Medicine

 

 

Our technologists pride themselves in easing concerns and providing you with the best care possible, while helping you understand the test being performed.

 

What is General Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose and determine the severity of or treat a variety of diseases or abnormalities. This includes many types of cancers, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological disorders, and other abnormalities within the body. Because nuclear medicine procedures are able to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, they offer the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages as well as a patients' immediate response to therapeutic interventions. 

 

Diagnostic

Nuclear medicine imaging procedures are noninvasive and, with the exception of intravenous injections, are usually painless medical tests that help physicians diagnose and evaluate medical conditions. These imaging scans use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals or radiotracers. 

 

Depending on the type of nuclear medicine exam, the radiotracer is either injected into the body, swallowed or inhaled as a gas and eventually accumulates in the organ or area of the body being examined. Radioactive emissions from the radiotracer are detected by a special camera or imaging device that produces pictures and provides molecular information. This procedure allows our doctors to examine your organs and diagnose a variety of diseases and disorders.

 

All Nuclear Med technologists at Boone Memorial Hospital are licensed by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the State of West Virginia.

 

Our nuclear medicine cardiac studies are read by Boone Memorial Hospital Cardiologist,

Dr. Casey Hager, MD, FACC. Dr. Hager is now a full-time employee of Boone Memorial Hospital. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hager please call: 304.369.8826. He is located on campus at the BMH Family Medical Center.

 

Non-cardiac studies are read by on-staff Radiologists.

 

Reports are typically ready in less than 24-hours.