Nuclear Medicine

Please send an email to nuclearmedicine@mmimaging.com. Please note that this address is for general inquires only and we cannot give out test results or answer questions about your report by email or over the phone.

Yes, but only in exceptionally rare instances. A cardiologist and a technologist will be present during your test and your vital signs will be continuously monitored. Emergency equipment is immediately available to deal with any unusual circumstances and all staff involved in your testing are highly skilled and trained.

Drug induced stress tests are typically used for patients who are unable to exercise due to physical inability or due to an underlying medical condition. Your doctor will recommend the method best for you and our on-site cardiologist will assess you prior to beginning the stress test.

Sometimes patients will experience headache, flushing, shortness of breath, nausea or chest discomfort following the injection of Persantine. These effects only last about 5 – 10 minutes and then they are reversed using a drug called Aminophylline.

A drug that dilates your blood vessels is injected through an intravenous (IV) line to increase blood flow to your heart muscle. This is the method used for patients who are unable to perform physical exercise.

You will walk on a treadmill until your heart rate has reached a pre-determined level. The treadmill starts off very slow and gets a little higher and faster every 3 minutes until your heart rate is elevated to the appropriate level. Generally this takes between 5 and 10 minutes of exercise.

In order to achieve good images for Part 2 we need to allow enough time to pass for the radioactive material from Part 1 to leave your body. Although it is possible to have both parts done on the same day, the 2 day protocol is the preferred choice as the image quality is best [...]

Possibly. Some medications may need to be discontinued, therefore it is very important that you bring a list of your medications with you when you arrive for Part 1 (rest day). The technologist will inform you if there are any medications that need to be discontinued and for how long.

It is important that you fast for 3 hours prior to your scheduled test. Eat a light breakfast and take your insulin 3-4 hours prior to your test. It is also advisable to bring a snack with you.

Yes. You will need to fast for at least 4 hours prior to your test and avoid caffeine for at least 12 hours. This includes decaffeinated coffee/tea, as it still contains enough caffeine to interfere with testing. Also, you should not smoke or chew gum for 2 hours prior to your test.