Examination
-Gallium Scan-

What can be detected by gallium scan?

Gallium Scan is a test to look for where tumor and inflammation are and how they have developed using a nuclear medicine containing gallium-67, a radioactive isotope, which is characterized by building up in tumor and inflammation area.
Usually, diagnosis is conducted based on scan pictures of the whole body (scintigram) and the level of the medicine building up. The best way for the treatment will be chosen in the light of Gallium Scan test result and other diagnosis.
Gallium Scan can also confirm the benefits of treatment after the treatment starts and check weather there is a relapse or not. Gallium Scan targets sites more than bones, not like bone scan, which targets bone only.

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Please listen carefully to the doctor's specific instructions and please feel free to ask questions without any hesitation.

Precautions to be taken before gallium scan

No special restrictions before or after the test, such as restrictions on food.

The Process of gallium scan

Before the test

  1. 1. You will get injected.
  2. 2. You have to wait the medication to build up at the lesion site (1 to 4 days).
  3. 3. Gallium injected will be eliminated through kidney and intestine. When lesion occurs in the belly, the healthy intestine and diseased part will lap over together and become different to distinguish each other. You may need to take a laxative the day before the scan to clean out your intestine.

The Day of the Test

  1. 1. No special restrictions on food.
  2. 2. In the morning, please empty your bowel and let attending nurse confirm it.
  3. 3. You will move to examining room, please discharge your urine in advance.
  4. 4. In order to start as scheduled, you have to move to the examining room.
  5. 5. The staff in charge will give you specific instructions.
  6. 6. Please lie on the exam table.
  7. 7. You can breathe as usual, but please do not move while pictures taking.
  8. 8. Scan will take about 30 to 50 minutes.
  9. 9. Please wait and do not move until you are notified that the test is finished.

After the test

  1. 1. No special restrictions after the test.
  2. 2. The medication used in the test contains a minute amount of radioactive substance which will naturally decay and vanish promptly (about 2 weeks)
    Amount of radiation received by people from the stated medication is as the same as it of X-ray or under it of X-ray.
  3. 3. Please do not worry because there are no special side effects at all.
  4. 4. The radiologist will interpreter the test results and then the doctor in charge will explain it to you.