It is recommended that patients have a base line Dexa scan at 45-50 years of age. Then all following exams can be compared to the first scan to monitor the changes in the bone density. Nuclear Medicine Nuclear medicine imaging is used when patients need functional or physiological evaluation. The radiologist will study these images and send a report to the patient s doctor. It is a way to check the blood flow through the muscle walls of the heart.
Bone scans can demonstrate the functioning of bone tissue.
They can be used to demonstrate fractures, degenerative conditions or aid in the diagnosis of metastases. The triple phase bone scans are excellent in demonstrating stress or occult fractures as well as osteomyelitis. Prosthetic implants such as an artificial hip prosthesis can also be evaluated. Thyroid scans evaluate the function of the thyroid gland. After the radiopharmaceutical has been ingested, scans are performed within 6 or 24 hours.