Nuclear Medicine Unit (NMU) of the hospital in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya offers diagnostic imaging and treatment facilities for many diseases.
NMU of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya was established in 1973 and this was the first established Nuclear Medicine facility in Sri Lanka. Later with the acquisition of second gamma camera in 1992 its services were extended to the TH Peradeniya.
We receive patients from various parts of the country and the unit is carrying out a wide range of diagnostic isotope imaging, Radioiodine Therapy and newborn screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism (first such unit in Sri Lanka) and a large number of other hormone tests using Radioisotopes. The total number of procedures exceeds 30,000 tests annually. Currently two Nuclear Medicine Physicians are serving the unit.
The Unit has a single head planar Gamma camera, Laminar flow fume hood, Radioiodine Therapy Unit and 2 gamma counters for patient services.
NMU is in the process of upgrading its facilities. In 2014 will be receiving a new dual head SPECT gamma camera which is upgradable to SPECT/CT and SPECT/PET in the future.
This new addition will help us to perform Myocardial Perfusion Scans, Brain Scans and Scintimamography in the immediate future. By the end of 2014 this will be upgraded to SPECT/CT with the IAEA help to perform Molecular Imaging (hybrid imaging) especially for Cancer Management.
We are hoping to improve Radio Nuclear Therapy facilities to treat Bone Metastases, Chronic Joint Diseases and Liver Cancer by the end of 2014.
We are also involved in Research and Teaching the medical undergraduates, Allied Health Students and Postgraduate Nuclear Medicine Professionals.
Our services :
- Whole Body Bone Scan (MDP)
- Radioioidne whole Body scan
- DTPA Renal Scan (renal function/diuretic scan)
- Captopril augmented DTPA scan
- Pre and Post Transplant Evaluation DTPA scan
- DMSA Renal Scan
- Lymph Node and Lymphoscintigraphy
- Thyroid Gland Scintigraphy
- Meckles? Scan
- RBC Labeling Scan
- Lung Perfusion
- Brain Perfusion
- Hepatobiliary (HIDA) studies
- Bone Scans to detect Condyle Hyperplasia
- Our services will be extended to
- Myocardial Perfusion
- Scintimamography
- Sentinel Node Detection
- Para Thyorid Localization
- Brain Scans
- White Cell Labeling to detect infections
- And SPECT /CT hybrid imaging
- I – 131 Ablation for Benign thyroid diseases (Thyrotoxicosis)
- I – 131 treatments for thyroid Cancer and Post Therapy whole Body Scan
- Radioimmunoassay for hormones
- Newborn screening for Congenital Hypothyroidsm (bloodspot TSH)
- Serum TSH/FT4/ TT4 and TT3
- Serum FSH/LH/Prolactin
- Serum Progesterone/ Oestradiol / Testosterone and cortisole
Instruction to public
Nuclear Medicine is a special imaging discipline that uses Radio Isotopes for investigation and treatment. According to the type of examination it requires administration of different Isotopes/ Radio-pharmaceuticals orally or intravenously. The time required for examination can also be varied.
- Patient need to have a referral or request from a Consultant for a particular study
- Before coming to a particular examination patient needs to fix an appointment
- At the time of appointment the patient should bring the referral letter or the request form, previous investigation report/s and the diagnosis card/s
- Because of the use of Radioactive substances it is very important that patients should arrive on time on the schedule day. In case of delay, examination cannot be performed
- In order to avoid unnecessary Radiation exposure from Radio Isotope given to patients, pregnant women and children should not accompany them into the NMU
- Most of the examinations do not require special preparations (patients are allowed to eat and to take their medications as usual). If preparations are needed you will be given instructions at the time of appointment
- Examinations that require special preparations:
- Isotope examination of the Liver and Biliary tract ? it is performed on an empty stomach
- For examination of Bones- patients should drink at least 1 litre of fluid
- For Thyroid scan or Radioiodine Therapy you need to stop Anti Thyroid drugs as well as Thyroxine prior to the procedure
- For examination of Lungs- patients should necessarily take the previous chest X-ray findings with them
- In case of Renal examination- it is important to drink an excessive amount of fluid
- Examination risks – The diagnostic and therapeutic effects of radiation have been used in medical practice for decades. The Isotope scans are associated with low radiation burden compared with the diagnostic X-rays. Therefore risk of exposure to these radiations is minimal. Therapeutic procedures will carry reasonable radiation exposure to the patient as well as the relatives and the general public. Therefore isolation is needed after therapeutic procedure.
- If patients have any questions or doubts concerning the examination or therapy procedure they can turn trustingly to our Nuclear Medicine Specialists prior to the planned procedures
- Side effects ? Usually Radioactive substances are safe and do not cause side effects. Allergic symptoms usually do not appear
- After the examination – After the examination patients can eat and drink as they usually do. Depending on the type of isotope you will be given instructions on how to behave in the next few hours or days. On the day of the examination close contact with pregnant women and carrying children under the age of 5 should be avoided anyway.
- Investigation Results ? Usually we handover the results of the examination immediately after the examination to the patient. If 24hour image is needed it will take 2 days
- Female Patients – Performing an Isotope examination is not recommended for pregnant and presumably pregnant women. It is also not recommended for breast feeding mothers. If you are requested to undergo such investigation or therapy procedure it is recommended that you inform us if you are pregnant or breast-feeding before the examination.
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