Based on a clinical evaluation, your doctor may recommend a nuclear medicine brain perfusion scan to confirm a suspected disorder of blood flow in the brain. We hope this introductory brochure will help you further understand this scan.

Purpose of the scan

• To evaluate cerebrovascular diseases such as ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attacks.
• To evaluate epilepsy.
• To evaluate dementia.
• To assess invasion incurred by autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system like systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Other psychoneurological disorders.

Procedure for the scan

• No fasting or special preparation is required; however, it is best for you to remain calm to prevent excessive external stimulation.
• You will be asked to close your eyes while our medical staff injects a tracer into your vein. Your eyes should remain closed until injection is completed.
• Our staff will schedule a time for scanning after the injection for scanning.
• At the time of the scan, please wait momentarily in front of the scanning room. The scan usually takes 40 minutes.

Things to keep in mind

• Notify our medical staff if you are pregnant; if so, the procedure will be inappropriate for your condition.
• Do your best to remain still during the scan. This will improve the quality of the image. There are no other special precautions and complications like allergy are rare.

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