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North Valley Hospital

Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine Nuclear medicine is offered via a mobile service in collaboration with Kalispell Regional Medical Center. The self-contained coach provides nuclear medicine services to patients every Monday and Thursday at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive material to diagnose a variety of diseases including many types of cancers, heart disease and certain other abnormalities.

Nuclear medicine can be used to identify abnormal lesions deep in the body without exploratory surgery. The procedures can also determine whether particular organs are functioning normally. For example, nuclear medicine can determine whether the heart is pumping blood adequately, if the brain is receiving enough blood supply, if the kidneys are functioning properly and whether the stomach is emptying as needed. It can also be helpful in studying Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, seizure sites, and heart damage after a heart attack.

The mobile coach is outfitted with the Symbia E nuclear camera from Siemens Medical Solutions, which allows physicians to obtain more detailed information and increased image clarity. Traditional X-ray, ultrasound and CAT scan look primarily at the structure of an organ while nuclear medicine evaluates the function of the organs.

For more information, contact North Valley Hospital Imaging Services at (406) 863-3576.