What is a Leg/Arm Lymphoscintigraphy?
Lymphoscintigraphy is a procedure used to assess the lymphatic drainage of the legs or arms in for patients with excessive swelling.
How long does a Lymphoscintigraphy take?
This procedure will take between 1 and 3 hours in total.
What preparation is there for a Lymphoscintigraphy?
No preparation is required for this scan. Please bring your referral from the doctor, any relevant recent scans/tests, and your Medicare card.
What does a Lymphoscintigraphy involve?
This examination uses a small amount of radioactive tracer to follow the natural lymphatic flow of your legs or arms. You will receive one or two small injections into each foot at the beginning of the procedure. The injection will sting for a brief period; however, the rest of the procedure is painless and these injections will not make you feel any different. Once the injection has been administered you will be asked to walk around for 15 minutes to encourage lymphatic flow. You will then be positioned beneath the gamma camera which will take an image of you from your feet to your pelvis. This imaging will take approximately 30 minutes. You will then be asked to walk around for a further 15 minutes and then further imaging will be taken. This procedure will be repeated several times, until the tracer makes its way to your liver, which can take between one and two hours. In some cases, the radiologist may ask to take pictures 2-3 hours after the administered injection to see how the tracer travels through your body.
For an arm lymphoscintigraphy, you will receive one or two small injections into each hand. Once the injection has been administered your arms will be positioned into the gamma camera which will take an image of your arms. This imaging will take approximately 20 minutes. You will be asked to return to take pictures 2-3 hours after the administered injection to see how the tracer travels through your body.
When are the results available?
After your scan is completed a Nuclear Medicine Physician will review your scan and write a report of the results. This report and the scan images will be sent securely electronically to your referring doctor/specialist. If you require your results to be sent to a different doctor, please advise the staff on the day of your scan.
Are there any costs for this scan?
No, your scan will be Bulk Billed. This means there is NO out of pocket cost for you if you qualify for Medicare.