Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine at UNC Health Johnston shows the inside of your body with excellent clarity and detail. Using tiny amounts of radioactive materials, nuclear medicine tests can detect diseases in their earliest stages—when treatment works best.
In Johnston County, you’ll find this advanced testing only at UNC Health Johnston.
What to Expect
You’ll receive a small amount of a radiotracer through an injection, a pill you swallow, or a gas that you breathe. After anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours, the radiotracer settles in the part of your body that needs examination. Then, imaging begins.
The radiotracer shows up on a special gamma camera and reveals how well a certain organ or body process works. The camera takes multiple images on the same day you receive the radiotracer. You may also need to come back a day or two later to take more images.
After testing, drink plenty of water to flush the small amount of radioactive material out of your body. Any remaining material will decay naturally.
How to Prepare
Follow the instructions for your test to get accurate results:
Results
A radiologist will review your images and send a report to your doctor who ordered the test. Expect a phone call from your doctor’s office to discuss the results and next steps.
To check your results in our secure, online patient portal, visit My UNC Chart.
