Nuclear medicine

Diagnostic nuclear medicine

Before a diagnostic nuclear medicine test, you’ll take a radioactive material, called a tracer. Depending on the test, you may swallow it, inhale it or get an injection. The tracer settles in a specific area of your body and gives off energy that can be detected by a special camera. This allow your care team to see how your organs or body tissues are working, and can help them detect disease in its earliest stages – when it’s easier to treat.

Diagnostic tests we offer

Rely on our nuclear medicine team for:

• Cardiac nuclear medicine – Checks heart for disease and damage.
• Hepatobiliary nuclear medicine – Examines parts of the biliary system, including the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts.
• Kidney (renal) scintigraphy – Reveals how well your kidneys are working.
• Lymphoscintigraphy – Looks for disease in your lymph system, which is part of your immune system.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) – Checks how your tissues and organs are working.
• Skeletal scintigraphy – Helps diagnose and evaluate bone diseases and conditions.
• Thyroid scan and uptake – Shows size, shape, position and function of your thyroid (a gland in your neck that regulates hormones).

Nuclear medicine treatments

If your doctor recommends a treatment that uses radiopharmaceuticals (drugs with radioactive chemicals), turn to ProHealth for:

• Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy – Treats overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) and thyroid cancer.
• Radioembolization (Y90) – Treats liver cancer.
• Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) – Treats non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma and other types of cancer.

Discovery PET/CT 690 system

Benefit from advanced nuclear imaging technology in Waukesha County. ProHealth was the first in Wisconsin to use the Discovery PET/CT 690. This system:

• Scans your body more quickly.
• Exposes you to less radiation.
• Helps your doctor make a more precise diagnosis so you can make more informed decisions about your care.