thyroid uptake and nuclear stress test

Thyroid Uptake and Scan: This is usually a two-day procedure.

First Day: The patient will be asked to come into the office to pick up an iodine capsule. The patient will swallow an iodine capsule 6 hours prior to the exam.

Second Day: The Thyroid Scan will be performed. The patient will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive agent. Images will then be taken to examine the thyroid.

Thyroid Scan Prep:
Nothing by mouth 6 hours prior to exam
No shellfish 7 days prior to exam
No cough medicine prior to appointment, unless iodine free
After checking with your doctor, discontinue taking the following medication:
Synthroid - 4 weeks prior to exam
Cytonel - 2 weeks prior to exam
PTU - 1 week prior to exam
Tapazole - 5 days prior to exam
Lavoxyl - 8 days prior to exam
Multivitamins - 2 weeks prior to exam
No iodine contrast studies (CT, IVP, Angiogram, or Myelogram) 6 weeks prior to exam
Please call the office with any questions you might have concerning your Thyroid Scan procedure.
We ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled exam time so that we can complete a detailed medical

NUCLEAR STRESS TEST
*** If you are unable to keep your appointment, you MUST call to cancel.***

Your physician has ordered a nuclear stress test. This is a non-invasive method of detecting heart disease. It is used to evaluate patients who have chest discomfort, to monitor heart function in patients with known heart disease, or to evaluate the progress of patients who have had previous angioplasties or stents.

TEST PREPARATION

  • DO NOT TAKE THE FOLLOWING MEDICATIONS 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE TEST, UNLESS INSTRUCTED BY YOUR PHYSICIAN:

  • Toprol XL, Lopressor, Metoprolol, Atenolol, Tenormin, Coreg, Carvedilol, Inderal or Propranolol.

  • NO CAFFEINE FOR 24 HOURS prior to testing. This includes: Coffee, pop/soda, chocolate, cold medications, etc. ANY product that might contain caffeine.

  • Nothing to eat or drink 4 -6 hours prior to your appointment time.

  • Nitroglycerine patches must be taken off 1 hour before testing.

  • Do not take any of your medications the morning of the test, but bring all morning medications with you as you will take them after the stress portion of the test is completed.

  • Patients should bring a snack to eat AFTER the stress portion of the exam is completed.

TESTING PROCEDURE

Rest Portion

  • You will be given an explanation of the exam and asked to sign a consent form.

  • A nuclear medicine technologist will start an IV in either your hand or arm.

  • A small amount of radioactive tracer will be injected through the IV.

  • You will be asked to wait approximately 20-40 minutes before imaging will occur.

  • When imaging occurs, you will be asked to lie on an imaging table with both arms above your head. Your chest area will be under a nuclear camera.

  • Images of your heart will be taken with the camera. Imaging time is approximately 15-20 minutes.

Exercise Portion

  • An exercise physiologist or nurse will place electrodes on your chest and connect wires to an EKG machine to monitor your heart rhythm.

  • A blood pressure (BP) cuff will also be placed around your arm to monitor your blood pressure throughout the exercise portion.

  • The treadmill will start slowly at first and will gradually increase in speed and incline.

  • Your BP will be checked frequently and your EKG will be continually monitored.

  • Once your heart rate reaches 85% of the predicted maximum, a second injection of the radionuclide will be injected through the IV by the nuclear medicine technologist.

  • You will be asked to continue walking for at least one minute after the injection. Exercise as long as you can since that increases the accuracy of the exam.

  • When the exercise portion is completed, your BP and EKG will be monitored for several more minutes and you will be given a cup of water to drink.

  • After a waiting period of approximately 15-30 minutes, at which time you may eat your snack, you will lie under the camera for the second set of images. These images will again take approximately 15 minutes to acquire.

For patients who cannot exercise

  • You will lie on the table while connected to the EKG machine and a BP cuff.

  • The cardiologist will inject a pharmacological agent which will simulate exercise.

  • The effects of the medication will only last about 3-4 minutes.

  • Your BP and EKG will be monitored for several more minutes and you will be given a cup of water to drink.

  • After waiting approximately 15-30 minutes, at which time you may eat your snack, you will lie under the camera for the second set of images. These images will again take approximately 15 minutes to acquire.

PLEASE ALLOW 3-4 HOURS FOR THE ENTIRE TEST TO BE COMPLETED

 
 
 
 

ACR ACCREDITED FACILITY

When you see the gold seal of accreditation, you can rest assured that the facility will meet the highest level of patient safety standards and image quality.