Nuclear medicine (diagnostic imaging)
Procedure Emergency cases* Urgent cases* Scheduled cases*
Bone scan (whole body) Immediate to 24 h Within 7 days Within 30 days
FDG-PET Immediate to 24 h Within 7 days Within 30 days
Cardiac nuclear imaging (perfusion; viability; LV function)
(SPECT or PET)		 Immediate to 24 h Within 3 days Within 14 days

FDG = fluorodeoxyglucose;
LV = left ventricular;
PET = positron emission tomography;
SPECT = single photon emission computed tomography.

* Priority or urgency levels are defined as follows:

  • Emergency = immediate danger to life, limb or organ;
  • Urgent = Situation that is unstable and has the potential to deteriorate quickly and result in an emergency admission;
  • Scheduled = Situation involving minimal pain, dysfunction or disability (also called "routine" or "elective").

Note: Unless specified, time refers to calendar days between decision to treat by specialist and the day treatment is received.

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