A SPECT scan is a noninvasive clinical test that uses a small amount of radioactive substance to trace blood flow in the body, detecting abnormalities in organs and tissues. It is a safe and painless procedure that can be completed in less than an hour, and the results are interpreted by nuclear medicine specialists.
A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan is a clinical test that doctors use to trace blood flow through certain parts of the body. During the test, a small amount of a radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream. A specialized scanning camera that can detect the substance is then used to take three-dimensional images of internal tissues. The scan is useful for discovering abnormalities in the brain, heart, liver, and other internal organs. A SPECT scan can also detect some types of cancerous tumors and deep, thin bone fractures.
Doctors first realized the benefits of SPECT scans in the 1970s, and decades of research and development have resulted in a highly reliable, noninvasive, and safe method of diagnosing patients with various ailments. SPECT scans are painless except for the puncture of the needle injection, and the radiation dose received during the test is minimal. Most of the time, scans are done in an outpatient nuclear medicine clinic and can be completed in less than an hour.
The type of radiation administered depends on the specific problem of the patient. Several radioactive isotopes work better as tracers in some areas of the body than others. For example, technetium-99 is commonly used for suspected brain and heart abnormalities, while iodine-123 is more effective at detecting cancerous tumors. Doctors choose tracers that will concentrate heavily in suspected problem areas while dispersing lightly throughout the rest of the body.
Before a SPECT scan begins, a patient receives a carefully measured amount of radioactive tracer through a vein in the arm. He is then asked to lie down on a table and relax for about 15 minutes while the tracer circulates in his bloodstream. A large machine with a rotating camera lens is positioned so that the actual SPECT scan can begin. The camera takes several images from different angles which can later be combined to create 3D images. It is able to illuminate organs and tissues by capturing the gamma rays emitted by the isotopes in the blood.
After the SPECT scan, the patient can usually go home while the test results are interpreted by nuclear medicine specialists. Experts upload images to computer programs and study accurate 360-degree renderings of body parts. Particularly dense areas of color indicate high tracer concentrations. If there is a tumor, bone fracture, heart defect, or neurological problem, it usually shows up well on a SPECT scan. The results are explained to the patient in detail at a follow-up visit so decisions can be made about further testing and treatment options.
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