Parathyroid Scan

Please make staff aware if

• you are or think you could be pregnant.
• you are breastfeeding, claustrophobic and/or if you are the primary/sole carer for small children when you book your appointment.
• you have had any reactions to injections used for imaging.
• If you think you may have had a recent CT scan with intravenous contrast, please notify staff when making your appointment.

Please bring any previous nuclear medicine scans or any other scans relating to the current problem.

You may be asked to cease certain medications or vitamin supplements prior to the test.

Bring any previous Nuclear Medicine scans or any other scans relating to the area of interest, as well as any recent blood tests measuring thyroid function to your appointment.

Approximately 60 minutes for part one of the test. You will then be given a time to return for part two of the test approximately 2 hours later which takes approximately 30-60 minutes.

Part 1: You will be positioned under the Gamma Camera and given a small injection of a radioactive tracer. This injection shouldn’t make you feel any different and allows images to be taken of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Images are commenced at the time of injection and are taken for approximately 60 minutes. You will then be sent away for a period of time (approximately 2 hours) during which time you can go about normal activity (including eating, drinking, driving your car etc).

Part 2: When you return, additional images of your neck will be acquired, along with a second injection of radioactive tracer. This part takes approximately 30-60 minutes.

There are usually no after effects from a parathyroid scan.

It is recommended that you minimise close contact with others (especially babies and small children) for up to 4 hours.

All images for your study will be available on the myPRP patient portal soon after your examination is complete. A report that includes a link to your study will be sent directly to your referring doctor. PRP Imaging will store digital copies of all studies on our secure database for comparison with any future examinations.

Normal and abnormal studies are both important for your management and PRP Imaging encourages you to return to your doctor for review of the results.