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Your doctor has requested a Parathyroid scan. This booklet will answer some of the questions you may have. 

What is a Parathyroid scan? 

A parathyroid scan is a simple and painless way of taking pictures of your parathyroid glands using a radioactive tracer. This test is used to localize parathyroid lesions or enlarged parathyroid glands and can also be used to identify parathyroid tissue that is located away from its normal position in the neck. 

What is involved? 

You will be given three appointments for your test: 

On your first appointment (15 minutes), a technologist will explain the entire procedure to you and then give you the opportunity to ask any questions. You will then receive an injection of a radioactive tracer into a vein in your arm. There are no known side effects from this injection. There will be a 15 minutes delay between the injection and the scan, which is required for the radioactive tracer to be taken up by your parathyroid glands. 

On the second appointment (1 hour), the technologist will bring you into the imaging room. You will be asked to remove any metal around your neck and to lie down on the imaging bed. The technologist will use a special camera called a gamma camera to take images of your neck area. We will also obtain some three-dimensional images. Once this part is completed, you will have approximately one hour to wait. The technologist will tell you the time to return for the last part of your test. During this waiting interval, you will be able to eat and drink and can leave the department and return later. 

On the third appointment (1 hour), the technologist will repeat most of the same images as in the previous scan. 

The entire test takes about four hours. 

Some patients may require additional images of the neck to help distinguish thyroid from parathyroid tissues following the parathyroid scan. In this case, the technologist will give you a second injection of a different radiotracer which allows us to visualize the thyroid gland. This injection also goes in a vein in your arm and has no known side effects. After waiting for about 5 minutes, the technologist will position you on the imaging bed for a 10-minute scan. 

If this part of the test is required in your case, you will spend approximately another hour in the nuclear medicine department.  

Do I need to prepare for the scan? 

  • Bring your Health card. 
  • No special preparation is required. You will be able to eat, drink and take your medications as usual on the day of your scan.  
  • We would like you to dress in clothing that does not have any metal. Please do not wear jewelry. Please leave all valuables at home. 
  • Since there may be a few hours waiting time between imaging during this procedure, it may be beneficial to bring some reading material. There is free Wi-Fi available. 
  • Please notify our booking office at the time of scheduling your appointment if you have any concerns regarding claustrophobia, lying still, require a mechanical lift for transfer to the imaging bed, have a language barrier or any other special needs, so that appropriate arrangements can be made ahead to provide you with the best possible care. 

Will it hurt? 

Only the pinprick of the injection needle may hurt a bit. You may have had a blood test in the past. This is much the same. 

Is the radiation dangerous? 

The injection contains a small amount of radioactive tracer which emits gamma rays (these are similar to X-rays). The radiation dose is very low and will disappear by itself after two days. The results of your scan will give your doctor useful information about your condition and will help them plan your treatment. The benefits of having the scan far outweigh any potential risk from the small radiation dose. 

Do I need to do anything after the scan? 

No special precautions are needed after the scan. If you are travelling across any borders in the seven days after your scan, please ask us for further advice. Border crossings and airports have very sensitive radiation detectors which may pick up tiny amounts of radioactivity remaining after your scan. We will give you a letter that you can show to customs officials at border crossings or airports. 

Is there anything I should tell the staff before the injection? 

Please tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  

What about breastfeeding? 

Breastfeeding must be interruption of 4 hours after the exam, during which time one milk meal should be pumped and discarded. Prepare for your exam accordingly. 

How will I get the results of my scan? 

A specially trained doctor will examine the pictures. This is normally done soon after the end of the scan. A report is then sent to the doctor who asked us to do the scan. Your doctor will normally receive the report within one week. You will also have access to the report on MyChart as soon as it is released. 

If you have questions about the scan results or report, please contact your doctor directly. They are best able to interpret the report for you. 

Will this test cost me money? 

No. This test is paid for by the healthcare system. The test costs several hundred dollars, so please notify the department at 613-761-4831 if you cannot make your appointment. 

What should I do if I cannot make my appointment? 

If you cannot make you appointment, it is important that you notify the department at 613-761-4831 as soon as possible. Failure to make your appointment results in wasting of expensive materials that are ordered especially for your appointment and also reduces availability to other patients. Missed appointments may also result in delays of your treatments. 

Directions and Parking 

Civic Campus  1053 Carling Avenue – 1st Floor Tel.: 613-761-4831, option 8 Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Directions: From within the Civic Campus, take the “C” elevators to the 1st Floor and follow the signs to Nuclear Medicine. Patients may also ask for directions at the patient information desk. General Campus  501 Smyth Road – Main level Tel.: 613-761-4831, option 8 Hours: Mon. – Fri., 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Directions: From the main entrance, follow the signs on the main level (located at the public elevators). Patients may also ask for directions at the patient Information desk. 
Park in either parking lot off Carling Avenue (P7) or in the multistory parking garage (P1).  Park in the parking garage which is located beside the main entrance just off Smyth Road.  

Parking instructions 

  • All parking lots are automated  
  • Take the parking ticket with you inside.  
  • When you have completed your appointment, you can pay by cash or credit card at one of our pay stations, or you can pay by credit card with express exit at the parking lot exit gates (the grace period after payment to leave facility is 20 minutes). 
  • Payment methods: 
    • Pay stations: Cash or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express). 
  • Maximum parking fee is $13.00 

Visit The Ottawa Hospital’s website for additional directions and parking instructions and maps. 

Last updated on: April 19th, 2022