noun, plural: scintigrams
(nuclear medicine) A two-dimensional photographic image obtained through scintigraphy
Scintigraphy is a diagnostic procedure consisting of the administration of a radionuclide with an affinity for the organ or tissue of interest, followed by recording the distribution of the radioactivity with a stationary or scanning external scintillation camera. The photographic record obtainable through scintigraphy is called a scintigram (also called photoscan or scintiscan).
In scintigraphy, radioisotopes attached to drugs are administered intravenously to reach the target organ or tissue. The emitted gamma radiation is then captured through the use of external detectors, such as gamma cameras. The device takes photographs or two-dimensional images of the target organ or tissues (e.g. liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, etc.). Based on the scintigram, certain conditions may be identified or diagnosed. For instance, it may reveal the presence of an obstruction (e.g. gallstone or tumor) in the bile ducts. It may also reveal other gallbladder diseases such as bile leaks of biliary fistulas. In lungs, scintigraphy is used to detect pulmonary embolism. It is also used as a diagnostic tool in detecting metastases in thyroid where isotopes iodine-131 are typically used.