The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
Nuclear medicine
Highly specialised diagnostic imaging using chemical tracers
Nuclear medicine is a scanning technique used to create detailed pictures of how your bones, organs or tissues are functioning
What is nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine imaging involves using a small amount of radioactive chemical (tracer), which is absorbed into your body and picked up by a specialised camera. The images created by a nuclear medicine scan can be used to identify tumours or diagnose suspected conditions. They're less invasive than other diagnostic procedures and are invaluable in the early detection of serious diseases, including cancer.
Common diagnostic tests that use nuclear medicine include bone scans, lung scans and certain tests for heart, thyroid and kidney function. Although nuclear medicine involves the use of radioactive materials, the amount of radiation you'll be exposed to during your scan is very small and considered safe.
Our nuclear medicine expertise
We provide a range of nuclear medicine tests to help pinpoint tumours, diagnose disease or monitor your treatment.
Need to know
A SPECT-CT scan is made up of two separate elements, a SPECT scan and a CT scan. The images from each scan are merged together to create the SPECT-CT scan. The process provides more accurate information about the anatomy and function of the area being scanned and makes it easier to identify problems.
PET-CT scans combine PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computised tomography) technology in one full body scanner. This advanced nuclear imaging technique shows how the cells in the body are functioning at the same time as generating 2D and 3D images of inside the body.
This test is used to diagnose coronary heart disease and evaluate the extent of the disease where its presence is already known. It is also used to analyse injury to the heart following a heart attack. By scanning the heart during exercise and at rest, it detects any reduction to the blood supply...
The thyroid is a gland in the neck. It can be affected by several diseases. You can test for these in a thyroid scan, which is a type of nuclear medicine imaging. Our clinicians have experience of all aspects of thyroid disease and offer diagnostic services and treatment for every thyroid condition.
Our nuclear medicine consultants
Our radiologists and consultants in nuclear medicine are experts in some of the most advanced diagnostic imaging techniques available.
The consultants are supported by radiographers who will guide you through your scan, and help make you as comfortable as possible
Our Nuclear medicine locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
The Wellington Neuroendocrine Tumours Unit
The Wellington Hospital NW8 9LE London