Scintigraphy

Scintigraphy is a radionuclide diagnostic method for visualizing body tissues. Unlike other imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scintigraphy provides information about the metabolic activity of tissues. Since tumors have increased metabolic activity, this method is mainly used in oncology. But there are other possible areas of application of this nuclear medicine method:

• Investigation of suspicious nodules or hyperactive thyroid function;
• Investigation of kidney function (for example, if renal artery stenosis is suspected);
• Investigation of blood flow and lung ventilation if pulmonary embolism is suspected (ventilation and perfusion lung scintigraphy);
• Diagnosis of bone diseases or injuries (infections, osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, tumors, fractures);
• Checking the functionality of the heart muscle (for example, after a heart attack or in case of coronary heart disease).

Separately, it is necessary to highlight somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (octreotide scintigraphy). This special type of scintigraphy is used to detect certain tumors, so-called neuroendocrine tumors, which are often localized in the abdominal cavity (intestine, stomach, pancreas) and which are unlikely to be diagnosed by other methods, such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI.

Today there is also such an examination as SPECT, SPECT/CT, or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which, like scintigraphy, is a diagnostic method for creating tomographic images of radionuclide distribution. Unlike scintigraphy, which forms only a two-dimensional projection, SPECT allows creating 3D images.

The scope of SPECT application is broader and includes cardiology, urology, neurology, pulmonology, brain tumor research, etc.

For a long time, experts have been discussing whether scintigraphy can be replaced by similar diagnostic methods of nuclear medicine, primarily by positron emission tomography (PET). As with scintigraphy, PET also uses radiopharmaceuticals that accumulate in the area of the body being examined. This type of examination allows obtaining three-dimensional images. But, although positron emission tomography sometimes gives more accurate results when searching for metastases, one method cannot be definitively replaced by another.

If you have been recommended to have a scintigraphy, and you want to undergo the examination in Germany, contact our managers, we will organize this type of diagnostics.