Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any side effects or risks to the brain imaging study?
The study does not use a dye. Adverse reactions to the radiopharmaceutical are very rare; when they do occur, the reaction is usually only a mild, self-limited skin reaction such as a rash. Please let your technologist know if you experience any symptoms during or after the injection. The total body radiation exposure from a brain SPECT scan is very small.
Will I feel pain when the drug is injected?
You will only feel a small pinch from the needle as it is placed into your vein.
Will I be alone?
The technologist will be close by during your scan. A parent (if applicable) can stay with his or her child during the scan.
Will the camera touch me?
The camera will rotate around your head and shoulders but no part of the machinery will actually touch you. You will not be placed in a tube. The time on the camera table is approximately 30 minutes.
Will I get a diagnosis from the SPECT scans?
Your doctor will use the data from your brain scan report to help form a conclusion about your condition or assign a diagnosis to you. CereScan does not give you a diagnosis.
Can I move during the scan?
No. Your head and body must remain motionless (blinking eyes and swallowing are okay) for approximately 30 minutes. Movement of your head will compromise the scan and render it unreadable by the physican.
After I've been injected with the radioisotope, should I avoid physical contact with others?
No, that is not necessary. In general, the radioisotope will remain in your body for a short period of time and is cleared out through natural bodily functions. Drinking more fluids afterwards will help you eliminate it more quickly. If you are traveling by airplane within 24 hours following a scan, please inform the technologist. If any special precautions are necessary, the technologist will advise you. If you are nursing, you will receive the document, Policies and Instructions for Patients who are Breast-feeding.
What should I do after the scans?
You can return to any regular activities of daily living (driving, work, school, exercise, etc.). However, it will be necessary to increase fluid intake to aid in the elimination of the radioisotope from your body. The goal is to urinate twice in the two hours following the injection. The technologist will provide you with discharge instructions.
Is the use of functional brain imaging with SPECT accepted in the medical community?
Both the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) endorse the use of SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) brain imaging in the evaluation of cerebrovascular disease and stroke, evaluation of dementia and suspected Alzheimer's disease, pre-surgical localization of epileptic foci, diagnostic evaluation of encephalitis and evaluation of suspected brain trauma. Research has also demonstrated regional blood flow patterns associated with other neurological disorders and with exposure to neurotoxins, hypoxia, and substances of abuse. While functional brain imaging is not considered an exact science for diagnosing psychiatric conditions, there are hundreds of published, peer-reviewed research studies that utilize SPECT for the evaluation of these conditions. If interested, please contact our clinical staff for further information.
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