Q: Who performs a radionuclide scan?
A: A radionuclide scan is carried out by a nuclear medicine specialist trained in the procedure.
Q: Is the procedure painful?
A: The procedure does not cause any pain. The only pain may be felt during the injection of the radionuclide.
Q: Will my insurance cover the procedure?
A: This varies from country to country and also depends on your policy. Please check with the insurance provider before seeking an appointment for the scan.
Q: Can the radio-isotope radiation harm me?
A: No, the isotope amount injected is very small and less than the x-ray exposure you get with a chest x-ray. The radioisotope will wash out within 24 hours from your body.
Q: Will I feel the radio-isotope as it is injected?
A: No, the only thing you will feel is the needle insertion. There will be no feeling of the actual injection.
Q: Can I do isotope scan if I am breast-feeding?
A: No, both in pregnancy and breast feeding, the isotope scan should be avoided.
Q: When will I get the report of the renogram scan?
A: Usually, it is available the same day or the next day.
Q: Why did the doctor ask for a repeat scan, when I went for a follow-up visit?
A: In some condition. a repeat scan is useful to decide further course of treatment. For example, if you have had a repair of an obstructed kidney (PUJ Obstruction), the doctor may want to monitor if there is any change in the kidney function over time and will need a yearly scan for a few years. Depending on the findings, he may advice you to do nothing or have further tests or perform another surgery.
