US Medical Term · tests
Nuclear Medicine Scan
Gammagrafía (Medicina Nuclear)
Also: Estudio de Medicina Nuclear (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Nuclear Medicine Scan |
| Spanish (Español) | Gammagrafía (Medicina Nuclear) |
| Chinese (中文) | 核醫學掃描 |
| Korean (한국어) | 핵의학 스캔 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chụp xạ hình (y học hạt nhân) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Nuclear Medicine Scan |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cintilografia (Medicina Nuclear) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การสแกนด้วยเวชศาสตร์นิวเคลียร์ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 核医学検査（シンチグラフィ） |
What it means
A nuclear medicine scan uses small amounts of radioactive material called radiotracers to evaluate organ function and detect disease. The tracer is usually given through an injection, swallowed, or inhaled. It travels to the organ being studied, where it emits gamma rays detected by a special camera called a gamma camera. This produces images that show how well an organ is working, not just what it looks like. Common examples include thyroid scans, HIDA scans for the gallbladder, and bone scans. The wait time between tracer injection and imaging varies from minutes to several hours. The radiation exposure is generally low and the tracer leaves your body within hours to days through urine or stool.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
How long will the radiotracer stay in my body after the nuclear medicine scan?
¿Cuánto tiempo permanecerá el marcador radiactivo en mi cuerpo después de la gammagrafía?
Is the radioactive material used in nuclear medicine scans dangerous?
¿El material radiactivo que se usa en la gammagrafía es peligroso?
Should I avoid contact with pregnant women after my nuclear medicine scan?
¿Debo evitar el contacto con mujeres embarazadas después de mi gammagrafía?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026