Northern Nuclear Medicine provides a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine services for patients in the hospital and the community. In May 2015 the practice introduced Gallium68 PSMA PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans for Prostate Cancer, and Gallium68 Dotatate PET scans for Neuroendocrine tumours. These are in addition to FDG PET scans for a range of other cancers which have been performed here since 2010.

Facilities at Northern Nuclear Medicine include a state-of-the-art PET camera, two SPECT-CT gamma cameras, and a DEXA bone densitometry machine.

The practice is located in the purpose-built Suite 306 on Level 3 of the San Clinic. Undercover parking is available within the San Clinic car park (P2) at a nominal fee, with easy lift access to Level 3. The suite is located immediately adjacent to the coffee shop, Tulip Shi. 

Contact Information

An appointment is required for all procedures. For enquiries or to make an appointment, please contact Northern Nuclear Medicine on 02 9473 8750. 

Further information is available at www.northernnuclearmedicine.com.au.

Opening Hours
Monday – Friday     8.00am – 5.00pm

Referral and Fees

A GP or Specialist referral is required for all nuclear medicine diagnostic and therapeutic services.  Specialist referral is required for PET scans.

Services are rebated, in-part, by Medicare. There is also usually a “gap” payment.

Services may also be rebated, in-part, by Private Health Funds (if an inpatient), and the Department of Veteran Affairs.  You should contact your health fund for further information.

Services

A wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services is provided to both in-patients and outpatients, including:

• FDG PET scans – for a range of cancer types
• Gallium68 PSMA PET scans – for prostate cancer
• Gallium68 Dotatate PET scans – for neuroendocrine tumours
• Stress SestaMIBI myocardial perfusion studies (with exercise, persantin or dobutamine)
• Bone scans – for stress or occult fractures, bony metastases, arthritis etc
• Lung scans – for pulmonary embolism
• Biliary/gall bladder/HIDA scan – for evaluation of acute or chronic cholecystitis
• Gastric emptying studies – for assessment of gastroparesis
• Renal scans – for evaluation of obstruction, renal artery stenosis
• Thyroid scans/Parathyroid scans – for evaluation of thyrotoxicosis and hyperparathyroidism
• Gallium scans – for evaluation of occult infection
• Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node localisation for breast cancer and melanoma
• Bone densitometry measurements for detection of osteoporosis
• I-131 treatment for thyrotoxicosis

Most studies do not require any preparation, apart from PET scans, stress SestaMIBI myocardial perfusion studies, biliary scans and some renal scans. Patients are informed of any special preparation required.

Staff

Specialist Nuclear Medicine Physicians assess patients, supervise their scans and report the studies. Experienced Nuclear Medicine Technologists perform the scans and a Registered Nurse assists the doctor in the stress laboratory.

The two principal Nuclear Medicine Physicians at the practice are:

• Dr David McHarg
• Dr Brenda Cumarasingam