Isotope study

Alternative names:

nuclear scan; PET (isotope) scan of the brain; radioactive uptake; radioisotope; radionuclide organ imaging; scintillation

What the risks are:

Generally, the risks involved with this type of study are similar to those of X-rays (radiation) and blood tests (injection).

For radiation, the greatest concern is with pregnant or nursing women. Infants and fetuses are more sensitive to the effects of radiation because they are still growing. The higher the dose of radiation and the number of exposures to radiation increase the risk. Generally, a few X-rays for diagnostic purposes (dental, chest, extremities) are not considered dangerous.

See the specific type of scan for other information.

Special considerations:

The reason for conducting an isotope study usually outweighs the concerns about radiation or other minor reactions.