What is SPECT scanning?
The only scanning of computer tomography (SPECT) with photon emissions is a clinical test that doctors use to monitor blood flow through certain parts of the body. During the test, a small amount of radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream. A specialized scanning camera that can detect a substance is then used to buy three -dimensional images of inner tissues. Scanning is useful in discovering abnormalities in the brain, heart, liver and other internal organs. Scan SPECT can also detect some types of cancerous tumors and deep, fine bone fractures.
At first, doctors realized the benefits of SPECT scanning in the 70s and decades of research and development have led to a highly reliable, non -invasive and safe method of diagnosing patients with various diseases. SPECT scans are painless, except for the needle injection and the radiation dose obtained during testing is minimal. Most of the time scanning are performed in outpatient nuclear Medicine Clinic and can be completed for less thangout an hour.
The type of radiation depends on the patient's specific problem. Different radioactive isotopes work better as stops in some areas of the body than in others. For example, the Technetium-99 is commonly used for the supposed abnormalities of the brain and the heart, while the iodine-123 is better in detecting cancer tumors. Doctors choose tracearies that focus strongly in suspicious problem areas while slightly distracted for the rest of the body.
Before starting scan SPECT, the patient receives a carefully measured amount of radioactive stopper in the arm. He is then instructed to lie down on the table and relax for about 15 minutes while the hitchhiking circulates through the bloodstream. A large machine with a rotating camera lens is rolled in place to start a real SPECT scan. The camera takes several images of angles that can later be combined to create 3-D pictures. Is able to illuminate organs andtissue by picking up gamma beams of isotopes in the blood.
2 Experts record images to computer programs and study accurate, 360 degree portion of body parts. The areas that have particularly thick colors indicate high concentrations of hitchhiking. If there is a tumor, a bone fracture, a heart defect or a neurological problem, it is usually well displayed when scanning SPECT. The results are explained in detail to the patient during the subsequent visit, so the decision on further testing and therapeutic options.