Mass General West Imaging - Patient Prep Guidelines

NUCLEAR MEDICINE PROCEDURES ( Download this file in .pdf )

MASS GENERAL WEST IMAGING
40 Second Avenue
The PARC Center
Suite 100 (Diagnostic Services)
Suite 120 (CT/MRI Services)
Suite 130 (Bone Densitometry and Screening Mammography)
Waltham, MA 02451
Exit 27B off Route 95/128

Bone Scan
Liver/Spleen Scan
Hepatobiliary Scan
Radionuclide Cystography RNC or VCUG
Gastric Emptying Scans
Meckel’s Scan and Scans for the Detection of Bleeding

Welcome to Mass General West Imaging, a state of the art imaging center staffed by Radiologists and Technologists of the Massachusetts General Hospital. We provide the highest standard of medical imaging service and interpretation that you have come to expect from MGH in a modern, convenient suburban setting. We want you, our patients, to be well informed about your imaging studies and have prepared this web site for you to read prior to your arrival in our department.

Using radiopharmaceuticals, a Nuclear Medicine scan can provide an accurate diagnosis for a variety of acquired and congenital disorders.

BONE SCAN (Whole Body or Limited)

Patients are injected early in the day approximately 8:30 to 11:30 am. Optimum imaging is at 2 to 4 hours post injection. Patients should be kept well hydrated and encouraged to empty their bladder just prior to imaging. Examination time is about one hour.

LIVER/SPLEEN SCAN
This procedure is intended primarily to be used for detection (or monitoring) of disorders which disrupt the organ architecture. Generally no patient preparation is needed. Imaging is begun 15 minutes after the injection. Imaging time is about 30 to 40 minutes.

HEPATOBILIARY SCAN
Patient must be fasting (NPO) for a least 4 hours. Imaging is begun with the injection. A series of images may be obtained at 2 hours, 4 hours and 24 hours. Patients booked for hepatobiliary studies with the question of biliary atresia or neonatal hepatitis do not need to be NPO.

RADIONUCLIDE CYSTOGRAPHY RNC OR VCUG
This test has been proven to be a safe and effective technique for the detection of vesicouretal reflux in patients with UTI (urinary tract infection), follow –up of known reflux, post operative assessment and evaluation of siblings of children with reflux. This test does require uretheral catherization. Examination time is between 30 to 40 minutes. Please feel free to call us at 781-890-2627, Mass General West Imaging, and we will be happy to answer any questions or concerns.

GASTRIC EMPTYING SCANS
Patient must be fasting for a least 4 hours prior to the examination. Imaging is carried out for 2 hours after the administration of the radioactive meal. Parents are to bring a bottle of formula/milk for their infants. In older children, a peanut butter sandwich or scrambled egg, or a bagel with cream cheese and juice will be given. If your child is allergic to peanut butter or is a fussy eater, please do not hesitate to call the department and speak with the technologist. We are more than happy to consult with you regarding your child’s likes and dislikes. You can reach us 781-890-2627, Mass General West Imaging.

MECKEL’S SCAN AND SCANS FOR THE DETECTION OF BLEEDING
The patient must be fasting (NPO) at least 4 hour before the exam. No studies involving barium should have been done in the last 48 hours. Imaging time is 40 minutes.