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This scan looks at the blood supply to the brain and the distribution of the blood within the brain and has a number of uses e.g. detection of stroke, the cause of recurrent headaches or to pinpoint the origin of seizures (such as epileptic fits). This scan will help the doctor diagnose your condition, and give appropriate treatment as necessary.
On arrival you will be given an injection containing a small amount of radioactivity into a vein in your arm. The imaging is carried out approximately 10 minutes later. For this, you will lie down on a couch and a gamma camera will rotate around your head and take pictures. In order to get reliable pictures, the camera will be close, and you will have to remain still. The procedure will take approximately 1 hour.
If you are pregnant, or you think you might be pregnant, you need to inform your doctor or the Nuclear Medicine staff before attending your appointment. In general, exposure to radiation during pregnancy should be kept to a minimum and it may be necessary to postpone your scan. The present guidelines recommend that breast-feeding need not be interrupted if the mother is undergoing this test; however, it is advisable to feed the baby before the injection and to express and discard any milk secreted over the first 3 hours following the injection.
We would prefer that you do not bring more than one person with you. It is advisable not to have a pregnant woman or a small child with you. This is to avoid exposing them to unnecessary radiation. It is also preferable to avoid prolonged close contact (hugging a child / sitting a child on your knee for more than half an hour) for the rest of the day.
You may eat, drink, and take your medication as normal.
You may feel a slight pinprick from the injection needle. Our doctors will be available during your stay in the department to answer any queries and to provide medical cover in case of any side effect from the injection we give you (please note that side effects are extremely rare).
The amount of radioactivity you receive in this study is strictly within the recommended national level. At this level, the benefit to you from a diagnosis of your condition outweighs the risk (negligible) of any harm associated with the radiation you will receive.
You may eat as normal. The more fluid you drink the better, as the radioactivity is passed out in the urine. No extra precautions need to be taken when passing urine.
The Nuclear Medicine doctor will report on the study and the result will be sent to the doctor who requested the study. He/she will be able to discuss the results with you in relation to other tests you may have had.