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Patient Guide
Find out how to prepare for your scan, what diagnostic equipment we use, and get answers to any questions you may have.
Find out how to prepare for your scan, what diagnostic equipment we use, and get answers to any questions you may have.
A SPECT scan, or single-photon emission computed tomography, is a complex diagnostic method used in the field of nuclear medicine and applied in clinical practice. This method is painless and involves obtaining images of organs, and above all assessing their function, using small doses of radioactive isotopes (radiopharmaceuticals). A radiopharmaceutical is a chemical compound containing an isotope that emits gamma radiation (most commonly technetium-99mTc with a half-life of 6.02 hours). Devices known as gamma cameras are used to capture the image. Scintigraphic imaging is a recognised, safe diagnostic method that enables appropriate treatment procedures to be undertaken.
The SPECT method is widely used in diagnostics: in endocrinology, oncology and cardiology, as well as in certain conditions affecting the nervous, urinary and musculoskeletal systems. It enables the detection of functional disorders in the organ being examined, often even before morphological changes occur, and facilitates the establishment of an accurate diagnosis. It also allows for the monitoring of disease progression and the assessment of treatment efficacy.
An isotope scan is a safe procedure. The radiopharmaceutical is usually administered intravenously via a venflon or a needle, and in some procedures orally, subcutaneously or by inhalation. During the scan, the patient lies still for a period ranging from a few to several dozen minutes. During this time, the gamma camera’s detector records the distribution of the radiotracer within the patient’s body, or its flow and excretion. The large detector head of this device covers the entire organ being examined (liver, heart, brain, kidneys) within its field of view.
No special preparation is required for some examinations; however, for certain examinations, the patient should attend the appointment on an empty stomach (imaging of the heart, thyroid, gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory lesions and neuroendocrine tumours). The patient will be given detailed information about how to prepare for the examination and the procedure itself at the time of registration.
You should avoid strenuous physical exercise for at least 24 hours beforehand
You must not bring young children or pregnant women with you to the examination
This radiopharmaceutical does not affect the ability to drive or operate machinery and vehicles
People with diabetes should remember to take their insulin or any other diabetes medication they are taking
The patient should wear comfortable clothing free from metal parts, such as:
zips, underwires, etc., or bring a change of clothes with you. You do not usually need to undress for the examination, but you must remove any jewellery and all metal items.
SPECT scans are used in the diagnosis of diseases of the bones, kidneys, nervous system, heart and blood vessels, thyroid and liver. However, it is worth mentioning other groups of conditions in which isotope scans are also used:
Pregnancy or the inability to rule out
pregnancy on the part of the patient
Breastfeeding – it is recommended that you stop breastfeeding for 12 hours after the radiotracer has been administered; do not give your baby the first portion of breast milk
No clinical indications
for the test
The examination should not be carried out immediately before or during radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or following endoscopic examinations, operations or biopsies, except in individual cases as recommended by a doctor
Remember!
If the examination is to be carried out under the National Health Fund (NFZ), the original referral must be submitted to the clinic 14 days before the scheduled date of the examination. This requirement applies only to paper referrals. It does not apply to e-referrals.
Please note that you can also register for badanie online.
