Your doctor has recommended you for a gallium scan. It is a multiple-day procedure. The role of this procedure is to diagnose, stage and follow-up on malignant tumors including lymphoma, leukemia, lung cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma. A gallium scan is also used to diagnose and to evaluate patients with certain infections such as pneumonia, abscess, osteomyelitis, sarcoidosis and fever of unknown origin. Our team of specialized doctors, nurses and technologists is led by Alan Waxman, MD, Chief of Nuclear Medicine.

We want to make your waiting time as pleasant as possible. Consider bringing your favorite magazine, book or music player to help you pass the time.

Please leave your jewelry and valuables at home.

Each day upon arrival, a technologist will explain that day's procedure and answer any questions you may have.

On your first visit, you will receive an intravenous injection (in your vein) of a tracer dose of radioactive material. The level of radioactivity is extremely low and has no side effects. The injection procedure will take about five minutes.

If the study is for tumor imaging, you will be scanned two and three days after the injection.

If the study is for infection imaging, you will be scanned at one and two days after the injection.

The first scan day will take one hour, and the second scan day will take two hours.

Depending on the scan results, you may need to return one additional day for a one hour scan.

During your scan, you will be required to lie flat on your back, without moving.

Using a special nuclear medicine camera, pictures of your body will be obtained. The camera does not produce any radiation; it simply detects and records the distribution of the radioactive material in your body.

Your study will be reviewed by an imaging physician specialist and the results sent to your physician. Your physician will discuss these results with you and explain what they mean in relation to your health.

To request a copy of your report, call (310) 423-8000.