Pediatric Nuclear Medicine

All pediatric patients' doses for Nuclear Medicine bone scans are calculated by patient's age, height and weight. Prior to the exam date, the child's parents are contacted to explain the procedure and obtain information about the child's behavior to determine whether he/she will be able to cooperate for the scan.  The required isotope injection is done with the smallest size needle and it is removed immediately. We suggest that the parents bring the child's favorite toys, book or music along for comfort and for a distraction. Most pediatric patients are imaged without sedation, although, patients less than three to four years old may require sedation as the scan time takes about an hour, and is done 2-3 hours following the injection.

Very young patients are introduced to the Nuclear Medicine staff prior to any injection and are given a tour of the equipment, and the parents and child are given step by step instructions of what the child will encounter. Any concerns regarding the radiation dose, safety and procedure protocols are addressed with the parents by our Radiologists.

We advise parents to wait outside while the scanning is occurring during which time books are read to them, or they can play their music and we might sing songs together. The situation is made as playful as possible which serves as our alternate technique to sedation and getting a good scan.

For our older group of pediatric patients especially those with sports injuries and/or, low back pain, we perform a SPECT scan (Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography) which allows the radiologist to locate very small stress fractures in the spine.  The amount of time needed for a full body scan with SPECT imaging takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.