If your physician has concerns about your health relating to certain organs or your blood vessels, you may be told to undergo a form of nuclear imaging.

Gulf Coast Hospital is proud to have the skylight nuclear imaging system - or gamma camera---to perform non-invasive, advanced diagnostic tests that can lead to life-saving treatment options. It can also rule out serious medical conditions. Radiology supervisor Tim Alvarez explains "It's unique to Southwest Florida because the camera is the newest and fastest camera available, it's brand new"

Tim says that with this machine, the patient is not enclosed in a tube like they are with a CT scan or an MRI, which is good news for claustrophobic patients who wouldn't have the procedure done otherwise. "They can just be imaged here and then they can just step out of the way. The camera as you can see is open."

Tim also says that before a scan, your doctor injects you with a special radioactive liquid. While the idea of radiation passing through your body seems dangerous, the procedure is completely safe. In fact, the solutions that are used are also non-allergic. "So that's something that if a patient is allergic to iodine, they will get a radioactive scan in nuclear medicine."

There are no known side effects caused by this imaging system and patients are able to resume normal activity afterward.

Nuclear imaging is an important diagnostic technology for many types of cancers, and it is also extremely effective for other common applications such as cardiac, bone, pulmonary, brain, and renal imaging.