Radiology - Nuclear medicine

Last updated: Monday 16 September 2024

General introduction

We provide nuclear medicine imaging techniques that look at both organ function and structure. Nuclear medicine is used to diagnose a variety of diseases, including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities within the body.

Most nuclear medicine procedures are performed using a gamma camera, a specialised camera that is capable of detecting radiation and taking pictures from different angles.

The gamma camera detects a very small dose of a radioactive substance which is injected into a patient's body. This allows doctors to build up a picture of the way an organ such as a kidney, thyroid or heart is functioning.

It also tells doctors about the progress of certain diseases such as prostate and breast cancers. We can gather medical information that might otherwise require more expensive diagnostic tests, surgical intervention, or which might not be available by any other means.

Nuclear medicine imaging procedures often identify abnormalities (problems) very early in the progression of a disease - often long before some medical problems are apparent using other diagnostic tests.

How to access this service

We see a range of patients referred from GP surgeries, hospital outpatient clinics and inpatient wards.

Examinations are performed Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.

About the team

While you visit the Radiology Department you may meet staff from the administration and clerical team, radiographers, assistant practitioners (AP’s), sonographers / vascular scientists, nurses, radiologists, radiology department assistants (RDAs), porters and student radiographers. The Diagnostic Imaging Systems team are also working in the background.

Useful information

The doctor or clinician who requested the test for you will receive the results.


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