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Home > For Patients > General Information > Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nuclear Medicine? Normally these radioactive drugs are given to the patient by injection into an arm vein, but a small number are given to the patient by radioactive capsule. The localization of the radiopharmaceutical in the desired organ requiring the test is dependent on the nature of the radiopharmaceutical itself, upon blood supply to the organ and to the level of function of the targeted organ. You can tell a lot about the size, shape, position and function of different organs by using radioactive drugs. Once the patient has received the radioactive drugs, they are then the source of radiation, and are emitting gamma rays. The patient is positioned under a machine called a gamma camera, which is just a big radiation detector and does not, itself, emit radiation. The gamma camera turns the radioactive signals into images of the organ that is being tested. With the computers that are available now, the technologist can also measure organ function. For example, on one type of heart study they can see the walls of the heart move with every heart beat and measure what percentage of blood in the heart is being pumped out with every heart beat. The gamma camera can also produce images that look something like a CAT scan. The patient has pictures taken at 360 degree around the body and then the computer programs create images that are like taking the organ out of the body and slicing it up on 3 different planes. Back to the top. |
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What is nuclear medicine used for? Radioactive drugs are also used to treat diseased cells such as cancer cells and destroy them. Back to the top. How much radiation will I be exposed to? What is our philosophy on patient care? Back to the top. |
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Are there regulations governing our practice?
The owners of Norfolk Nuclear Medicine Inc. have made the personal and financial commitment necessary in order to supply the Haldimand, Norfolk, Oxford and Brant area with the latest in medical technology. Norfolk Nuclear Medicine strives to work in cooperation with other health care providers in the community and supports several charitable organizations, such as the Norfolk General Hospital Building Fund, Tillsonburg Hospital Extravaganza and Delhi Medical Centre Building Fund. We also offer cooperative training placements to students from the Grand Erie District School Board, Fanshawe College in Simcoe and Mohawk College in Hamilton. Back to the top. |
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