What is the definition or description of: nuclear scans?

Nuclear scan: From a cardiac perspective nuclear scans are performed with either exercise or medications to examine the blood flow in the heart. Before and at peak exercise the patient is given a radio tracer which travels in the blood to the heart. Pictures are take before and after exercise and compared to evaluate for any blockages in the arteries on the heart.

Physiologic study: Nuclear scans involve the ingestion, intravenous injection, inhalation, subcutaneous injection , instillation into the bladder of isotopes, radiotracers, in order to define function of various organs of the body, heart, lungs, bones, liver/spleen, stomach, thyroid gland, lymph system, kidneys, bladder, brain, parathyroid gland and gall bladder. Normal values for adults and children are known.

Nuclear medicinetest: A nuclear scan refer to a medical imaging study performed in nuclear medicine, using intravenous, oral administration or inhalation of radionuclide tracers ( weakly radioactive material). According to the type of radiotracers injected, the physician will be able to evaluate the function of the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, bones, lungs, as well as cancer. Inflammation, or organ infection.