Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine services at KIMS Hospital help to identify conditions in the earliest stages.The Nuclear Medicine service at KIMS Hospital offers patients a safe and non-invasive procedure. Through the use of radioactive tracers it can assess bodily functions and help to diagnose and treat disease.
It uses a small amount of radioactive material to highlight specific areas of the body for closer examination. This type of scan can provide valuable information and detect early-stage abnormalities that might not be visible with other imaging techniques.
What does Nuclear Medicine treat diagnose?
Whilst Nuclear Medicine can help diagnose and treat conditions, it can also be used to evaluate how a treatment is working. Scans can help to diagnose these areas:
- Blood disorders
- Thyroid disease, including hypothyroidism
- Heart disease
- Gallbladder disease
- Lung problems
- Bone problems, including infections or breaks
- Kidney disease, including infections, scars or blockages
- Cancer
To undergo a Nuclear Medicine scan, you will need a referral from a qualified healthcare professional, such as your GP, consultant, osteopath, or physiotherapist. If you believe you may need a scan but do not yet have a referral, our team can assist you by arranging an appointment with a private GP or physical therapist. They will assess your condition, determine whether a scan is necessary, and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Consultants
Nuclear Medicine FAQs
Is Nuclear Medicine safe?
Nuclear Medicine procedures are safe, a small amount of radiation is used to ensure the minimum radiation exposure and maximum accuracy.
If you have any concerns or would like further information, please get in contact with us to find out more.
What should I expect from a nuclear scan?
Nuclear medicine imaging is mostly performed as an outpatient procedure, so you do not need to stay in the hospital overnight.
The Radioisotope is usually given via an injection into your arm, much like a blood test. Images are taken straight away or within a few hours, but the exact timings will be discussed with you when your scan is booked.
During most nuclear medicine examinations, you will lie down on a scanning couch. The area being scanned is then placed underneath the camera heads. They will come close, but they will not touch you and you will not feel anything from them. The camera heads either move around you in a circular motion or scan your body with one camera head placed above and the other beneath you. You are not completely closed-in during the scan, but you will need to remain quite still.
If any special instructions are necessary, you will be informed by the Radiographer or Nuclear Medicine Technologist before leaving the Nuclear Medicine department.
Following the scan, depending on the type of tracer that you have been injected with, you may be advised to refrain from coming into contact with pregnant women or young children for 24 hours after the scan. The Radiographer or Nuclear Medicine Technologist undertaking the scan will advise you on this at the point of the scan.
What happens if the scan detects an issue?
Your Consultant will be able to discuss the results of your scan in a follow-up consultation and advise whether further diagnostic procedures or treatment are needed.
If you need to book further appointments for treatment, your Consultant will be able to help you with this.
- Make a general enquiry
- Appointment enquiry
Our team are on hand to help answer any queries you might have about coming to KIMS Hospital or Sevenoaks Medical Centre. You can use the form below and one of our team will be in touch. Alternatively to speak to a member of our team, please call 01622 237 727.
Enquiry hours are Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm.
If you would like to book an appointment, you can use the form below and one of our team will be in touch.
Alternatively to speak to a member of our friendly team, please call 01622 237 500 between Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm.
Please be aware, if you are requesting a diagnostic scan such as an MRI, or CT, you must have a referral from a relevant clinician or Allied Health professional such as a physiotherapist.