What it means
Scintigraphy is the formal name for many nuclear medicine scans. A small amount of radioactive tracer is injected, swallowed or breathed in, and it travels to a particular organ or tissue. A gamma camera picks up the faint radiation it gives off and turns it into pictures. While CT and MRI mostly show structure, scintigraphy shows how tissue is working, such as bone turnover or how well a kidney drains.
When it matters
Common examples are bone, thyroid, kidney, gallbladder (HIDA), lung (V/Q) and heart perfusion scans. Areas that take up more tracer are called hot, and areas with less are called cold. Neither is a diagnosis on its own, since common causes such as arthritis or a healing injury also change uptake. Findings are often compared with X-rays, CT, MRI or older scans to explain them.
Questions to ask your doctor
- What was this scan looking for in my case?
- Do any hot or cold areas need another type of scan?
- Can these images be compared with my older scans or X-rays?
