Services
Nuclear Medicine at RAVE: Advanced Imaging for Precise Diagnosis
At Radiology Associates of Venice, Englewood, and Sarasota, our cutting-edge nuclear medicine scans use safe, trace amounts of radioactive materials to detect and evaluate conditions affecting the heart, bones, thyroid, and more. These non-invasive procedures provide critical insights into organ function, enabling early diagnosis and effective treatment. Don’t delay-timely imaging can transform your health outcomes.
Call (941) 488-7781 now to schedule your nuclear medicine scan at one of our convenient locations!
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear medicine is a specialized form of radiology. Patients are given a radioactive substance either by mouth or intravenously that collects in specific body organs. Then the gamma camera detects the energy being emitted from that substance and an image can then be captured.
Nuclear Medicine scans are typically painless and patients are exposed to no more radiation than in a common X-ray.
Images from nuclear medicine scans can assist the physician in diagnosing many conditions and disease. Assessing organ function can help physicians to detect infections, tumors, and other disorders.
Nuclear Medicine Services:
- Total Body Bone Scan
- 3 Phase Bone Scan
- Renal with Lasix
- Thyroid Uptake & Scan
- Parathyroid Scan
- V/Q Scan
- I 131 Therapy
- Muga Scan
- Gastric Emptying Scan
- Liver-Spleen with Spect
- I-131 Whole Body Scan
- Hepatobiliary and DAT scan for Parkinson’s disease
How is this Procedure Performed?
The radioactive substance is a medicine called a radiopharmaceutical. The type of radiopharmaceutical that will be used is determined by the organ system of the body that is being evaluated. This is because some compounds collect in certain organs better than others. The length of time that it takes for the dose to travel to the desired organ can vary greatly depending on the type of scan. It can take as much as several days and as little as a few seconds.
A scan can generally take anywhere from 20-60 minutes. The patient must remain as still as possible while the images are being taken in order to get the clearest images possible. A series of images may be ordered to show how an organ functions over a period of time in order to get the most information possible.
DaT Scan: Precision Diagnostic Imaging for Parkinson’s Disease
The Dopamine Transporter (DaT) Scan is an advanced nuclear medicine imaging procedure designed to evaluate dopamine transporter function in the brain, offering critical insights for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and related parkinsonian syndromes. Utilizing Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), the DaT Scan provides a highly specialized tool to support accurate differential diagnosis in patients presenting with movement disorders. Below is an overview of its clinical application and diagnostic value:
- The DaT Scan is primarily indicated to assess dopamine transporter levels in the basal ganglia, a region critical for motor control, to aid in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonian syndromes.
- It is particularly effective in distinguishing Parkinson’s disease from conditions such as essential tremor, vascular parkinsonism, or drug-induced parkinsonism, which may present with overlapping clinical features.
Diagnostic Mechanism
- A radiopharmaceutical tracer, typically Ioflupane I-123, is administered intravenously and binds specifically to dopamine transporters in the brain.
- SPECT imaging captures detailed three-dimensional images, revealing the distribution and density of dopamine transporters.
- Reduced transporter uptake in the basal ganglia is a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative parkinsonian disorders, providing a clear diagnostic indicator.
- Differential Diagnosis: Confirms or rules out dopamine-related pathology in patients with ambiguous movement disorder symptoms.
- Early Detection: Facilitates identification of Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, enabling timely therapeutic intervention to optimize patient outcomes.
- Treatment Planning: Provides neurologists with objective data to guide personalized treatment strategies.
Procedure and Safety
- The procedure is non-invasive, with the tracer administered via a single injection followed by imaging after a short uptake period.
- Radiation exposure is minimal, and the tracer is cleared from the body within hours, ensuring patient safety.
- Performed in a controlled clinical setting, the DaT Scan is well-tolerated with a low risk of adverse effects.
Why RAVE?
At RAVE, our nuclear medicine department is equipped with state-of-the-art SPECT technology and staffed by experienced radiologists and technologists dedicated to delivering precise diagnostic results. We prioritize patient safety, comfort, and collaboration with referring physicians to support optimal clinical outcomes.
For patients with suspected Parkinson’s disease or related disorders, the DaT Scan offers unparalleled diagnostic clarity. Contact RAVE’s nuclear medicine team to discuss how this advanced imaging modality can assist in your diagnostic pathway.
Note: A DaT Scan should be ordered and interpreted by a qualified neurologist or specialist in conjunction with clinical evaluation.
Case Studies
What Will I Experience During My Procedure?
Aside from mild discomfort from the injection of the radiopharmaceutical in those tests that require it, nuclear medicine exams are painless. All that is required is that the patient remain still while the pictures are being acquired.
The small amount of radioactivity will usually be eliminated through the urine or stool. Any remaining radioactive material will disappear over the next few hours to few days.
How Should I Prepare for this Procedure?
Typically there is no special preparation for a nuclear medicine test. Although, your physician may ask that you miss a meal before your test if your procedure requires imaging of the stomach or gallbladder. Also, you may be directed to drink plenty of water for tests of the bones and kidneys. If you have specific questions, you may call and speak to a technologists.