Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

A single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan lets your doctor analyze the function of some of your internal organs. A SPECT scan is a type of nuclear imaging test, which means it uses a radioactive substance and a special camera to create 3-D pictures.

While imaging tests such as X-rays can show what the structures inside your body look like, a SPECT scan produces images that show how your organs work. For instance, a SPECT scan can show how blood flows to your heart or what areas of your brain are more active or less active.

Why it's done
References
  1. Segerman D, et al. Radionuclide imaging: General principles. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50010-5&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&sid=1096684137&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50010-5--cesec19&uniqId=230251895-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50010-5--cesec19. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
  2. Nuclear medicine. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/Nuclear_Medicine.aspx. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
  3. Saunders D, et al. Functional imaging techniques. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50058-0--cesec30&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50058-0--cesec30&uniqId=230251895-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50058-0--cesec30. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
  4. Cardiac nuclear medicine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=cardinuclear. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
  5. Stoessl AJ, et al. Neuroimaging: Functional neuroimaging. In: Bradley WG, et al. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Butterworth-Heinemann Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50046-7&isbn=978-0-7506-7525-3&sid=1097322452&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50046-7--cesec3&uniqId=230351879-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-7506-7525-3..50046-7--cesec3. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  6. Hackney D. Approach to common clinical syndromes. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50424-9--cesec26&isbn=978-1-4160-2805-5&sid=1097322452&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50424-9--cesec26&uniqId=230351879-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50424-9--cesec26. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  7. Hartnell GG, et al. Cardiac anatomy and imaging techniques. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50025-7&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&sid=1096684137&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50025-7--cesec43&uniqId=230251895-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50025-7--cesec43. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
  8. Beller GA, et al. Nuclear cardiology and computed tomography. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  9. What is nuclear medicine? Society of Nuclear Medicine. http://interactive.snm.org/docs/whatisnucmed2.pdf. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  10. Goldstone K, et al. Radiation issues governing radiation protection and patient doses in diagnostic imaging. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50012-9&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&sid=1097358658&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50012-9--cesec19&uniqId=230355386-6#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..50012-9--cesec19. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  11. General nuclear medicine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=gennuclear. Accessed Dec. 20, 2010.
  12. Lowe V (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 5, 2011.
MY00233 March 4, 2011

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger