Nuclear Medicine Scan

Ceretec (Extremities)

Indications:

This scan is done for the evaluation of inflammation and infection of an extremity.

The Procedure:

1. It will be necessary for you to report to the Nuclear Medicine department three times on the day of your scan.
2. Outpatients should report to Outpatient Registration desk at 7:00 am.
3. After registration, a Nuclear Medicine Technologist will draw a blood sample. Your blood sample will be sent to a special laboratory to have a low level radioactive material added to it. After the blood draw you may leave. When your blood sample is returned it will be injected into your body. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will let you know when to return for the injection and the scan. Usually you will return about 4 hours later for the injection and then 4 hours later for the scan.
4. If you are an inpatient, the Technologist will come to your room to do the blood draw.
5. You will receive an injection in your hand or arm. The injection is not a dye or contrast. The injection is a low level radioactive material. If you are an inpatient, you may be injected through an existing IV or INT.

Inpatient and Outpatient Preparation Instructions:

1. If you are breast-feeding, pregnant or think you are pregnant, you must inform your doctor.
2. No preparation is necessary for this scan.
3. You may take any prescribed medication for this scan.

Note:

For your convenience we may schedule more than one test on the same day. This can be confusing because the test may have different preparation instructions. If you are an outpatient and don’t understand the instructions, please call Radiology. If you are an inpatient the nursing staff will correlate your test with the preparation.

For Your Information:

The Radiologist (x-ray) doctor will read the scan and send the results to your doctor.

Important:

There is a charge for the isotope injection, which must be ordered before the scan. If it is necessary to cancel the scan, please call the Radiology Department at (419) 394-3335, extension 3528 as soon as possible.