Radioactivity: information for the patient's support person

Our medical team believes that your presence during the test at our Nuclear Medicine Department offers significant benefit for the patient you accompany. During the test, a mildly radioactive tracer is used, as well as, in some cases, a small dose of X-rays. Depending on the type of scan being performed, you may receive a small dose of radiation.

When the body is radiated with a high dose or with repeated smaller doses, there is a chance that cancer may develop.

The radiation dose that we use for diagnostic testing is very limited. The devices and the dose used is strictly controlled and monitored. For this reason, the risk of harm to the patient is negligible. The doses received by the support person accompanying the patient are naturally much lower and are considered negligible for most tests performed.

If you follow the instructions given by our nursing staff, we can limit your radiation exposure to an absolute minimum. Various kinds of tests are performed in our department. The nurse will discuss with you whether there are any considerations in order to clarify these points as concretely as necessary. This depends on the type of tracer used. We sometimes ask that you exit the camera room during a very brief portion of the test (e.g. for a CT scan). Usually, however, you may stay for (almost) the entire test if the patient requires it.

Babies and foetuses are far more sensitive to the effects of radiation than adults. If you or the patient you are accompanying are pregnant, please take the initiative to inform one of our department staff. Even if there is only the possibility of a pregnancy, we would like to know this before starting the test.

Your presence is your personal decision. If you do not wish to be present, please let the medical team know as soon as possible.