I-MIBG Whole Body Scan

PREPARATION:         

• Fasting is not necessary.
• The use of beverages and foods containing caffeine (e.g., coffee, chocolates, mate tea, black tea, green tea, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Guarana, chocolate cake, coffee candy, etc.) should be withheld 24 hours before the exam.
• In order for the medication not to be absorbed by the patient’s thyroid gland, it is important to saturate it with non-radioactive iodine, so the patient will be instructed to take potassium iodide syrup (Expec) or Lugol three days before and two to three days after injection of the radioactive material, as shown below.

In adults, we recommend:

ü 1 teaspoon of potassium iodide syrup (three times a day) or 1 drop/kg weight of Lugol’s 1 % solution (divided into twice-daily doses), for no more than 40 drops, 3 days before and 2 days after the injection of the radioactive material.

In children, we recommend:

ü Newborns = 16 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 ml of Potassium Iodide syrup, 1 time a day, one day before the exam);

ü Between 1 month and 3 years = 32 mg of Potassium Iodide (0.5 ml of Potassium Iodide syrup, three times a day, two days before and two days after tracer injection);

ü From 3 to 13 years = 65 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 ml of Potassium Iodide, three times a day, two days before and two days after the tracer injection);

ü Over 13 years of age = 130 to 200 mg of Potassium Iodide (1 teaspoon or 5 mi of Potassium Iodide syrup, two to three times a day, two days before and two days after the injection of the tracer) or 1 drop/kg of the child’s weight of Lugol’s 1% solution, divided into twice-daily doses, for a maximum of 40 drops.

• Patients who have already had surgical removal of the thyroid gland do not need blocking.
• Some medications must be withheld for this exam, but only with permission from the referring physician. Check the list with our call center.
• This test is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

HOW IS THE EXAM PERFORMED?

After filling out the registration form, the patient will undergo a brief clinical interview to check their data and exam preparation. Then, the patient will be sent to the injection room, where a small amount of radioactive material will be administered into a vein, preferably into one from the forearm. Blood pressure will be measured before and after the injection of radioactive material.

The patient will be temporarily discharged and instructed to return in 6 to 24 hours, for exams performed with IODINE-123 and in 48 to 72 hours for exams performed with IODINE-131.

Upon returning to the clinic, the patient will be taken to the exam room where they will be positioned on the stretcher of the device. They should remain motionless, lying down, for 30 to 45 minutes to acquire full-body images. Complementary tomographic images will be performed whenever necessary.

In some cases there may be need of overlapping or fusion images to better locate the lesion, so the nuclear physician may require the administration of another type of radioactive material.

In cases where detailed evaluation of the abdomen is necessary, we recommend the use of laxatives.

When the material is not properly cleared, even with the use of laxatives, the patient will be asked to return on another day for complementary imaging, remembering that this does not require any additional administration of the tracer.

Note.:

1) after the injection of radioactive material, the patient should resume routine medications, if they have been withheld.

2) there are no restrictions after the end of the test, except for the maintenance of the use of potassium iodide according to the preparation guidelines.

                                                                                                                OE 041- Version:  05/2024 

                                                                                                                             Made by: DIMEN Technical Team