Beginning in early November, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital patients will benefit from a state-of-the-art Philips Argus nuclear medicine imaging system. Nuclear medicine is one of the best methods for detecting early signs of heart, lung, liver, thyroid, bone, or kidney disease, small tumors, or even infections. It is the hospital’s second major investment in diagnostic imaging equipment in recent months. The hospital purchased bone densitometry equipment over the summer.

Nuclear medicine is a method of photographing bones, organs, and tissue structures. It can tell health care providers not only what a body looks like on the inside, but also how well organs and tissue structures are functioning. For example, it can create images that show a heart as it beats, or lungs as they breathe.

Unlike other imaging technologies like X-ray or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that provide structural or geographic information, nuclear medicine detects activity on a molecular level. The system works by detecting benign radiation emitted from a radioisotope given to a patient. Once inside the patient, the radioisotope is attracted to a specific organ or area of the body. These areas absorb the radioisotope in quantities greater than those absorbed by surrounding tissues. The radioisotope highlights the area to be examined thus permitting images of the internal body structures and other functions. The exposure to radioactivity for a nuclear scan is similar to the exposure for an x-ray – very small and quite safe. The isotopes are usually eliminated from the body within a few hours or days, with no side effects.

Blue Hill Memorial Hospital’s innovative system includes high definition digital detectors that offer unsurpassed imaging performance and expanded clinical capabilities. Its design enhances patient comfort and enables technologists to perform highly accurate organ and tissue-specific studies while accommodating stretcher, wheelchair or ambulatory patients of all sizes and body types.

"Nuclear medicine offers a unique combination of quality, versatility and functionality, says Steve Votey, who manages the hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging Department. “This system, like our new bone density equipment, will help us improve patient outcomes.”

Erik Steele, DO and Interim CEO is quick to laud the hospital’s donors for helping to make this new service possible. “We expect high demand for nuclear medicine, which in many cases will eliminate the need to travel beyond the peninsula for testing. Private support is crucial to our ability to deliver outstanding medical care, close to home.”

For more information, contact BHMH Imaging Department Manager Steve Votey at 374-3490.