Prostascint Scan

A prostascint scan uses a radioactive material that is specific to prostate cells.

Protascint may be used as a test in newly diagnosed patients with prostate cancer, after prostate surgery or prostatectomy patients with rising PSA.

Before Your Procedure

• Patients should not have any other recent nuclear medicine procedures.
• Patients will be asked to take a mild laxative (Milk of Magnesia) and to drink plenty of fluids from beginning until the end of the study (4 days).
• A cleansing enema (Fleets enema done at home) is also required immediately prior to imaging.
• All of these instructions will be given at the time of prostascint administration.

During Your Procedure

On the 1st Day (a Thursday or a Friday):

• The prostascint injection is administered.
• A technologist will start an IV in a vein in the arm through which the radioactive substance is given over a 10-15 minute period.
• The prostascint will be allowed to circulate throughout your body for 4 days.

On the 4th Day, Scans Will Be Performed.

• The scan requires that you lay flat on your back for approximately 30 minutes while the camera scans your body.
• After the scan you will be offered a short break.
• For the SPECT scan, you will be asked to lay flat on your back with your arms above your head for approximately 40 minutes of scanning.
• In order to get good pictures it is important that you lay very still during the scan.
• There are no side effects from the imaging procedure.

After Your Procedure

Your doctor will be contacted with the results of your test and will discuss the results with you.