Mayo Clinic's approach
Mayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience using radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and treatment. The state-of-the-art nuclear medicine facilities at Mayo Clinic hospitals give doctors access to a full range of radiopharmaceuticals.
Your Mayo Clinic care team
If you're considering a nuclear medicine test or procedure, you'll likely work with a team of doctors. Your healthcare team includes a variety of specialists who work together to choose the tests and procedures that are right for you. Your team considers all of your needs when making your care plan.
The exact makeup of your care team may depend on the reason for your test or procedure. Your care team might include:
For those with cancer, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center offers compassionate and personalized care. Cancer specialists work in teams with doctors from other specialties to provide you with exactly the care you need.
Access to the latest tests
Mayo Clinic radiologists are experienced in using radiopharmaceuticals to accurately detect and monitor many diseases and conditions.
- Expertise in nuclear medicine imaging. Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota have cyclotrons, PET radiochemistry laboratories and nuclear radiopharmaceutical laboratories, all of which are needed to properly handle and produce the radiotracers for PET imaging, SPECT imaging and other nuclear imaging tests. Each campus also has state-of-the-art scanners, including PET-CT, PET-MRI and SPECT-CT.
- Experience interpreting nuclear medicine scans. Mayo Clinic radiologists read and interpret thousands of PET scans and other nuclear medicine imaging tests each year. Having an experienced radiologist on your team helps give you the most accurate diagnosis.
- A history of innovation in radiopharmaceuticals. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, was the first medical center in the United States to receive approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prepare and administer the radiopharmaceutical used in a choline C-11 PET scan.
Access to the latest treatments
Mayo Clinic has the largest modern radiopharmaceutical therapy practice in the country. People who seek care at Mayo Clinic have access to the latest radiopharmaceutical therapy treatments.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic are studying new and innovative radiopharmaceuticals, including a novel radiopharmaceutical for metastatic breast cancer. Access to new treatments may be available in clinical trials. Ask your healthcare team about which trials might be open to you.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic doctors are widely respected for their expertise in using radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions.
- Center of excellence for radiopharmaceutical treatments. The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging has designated Mayo Clinic as a Comprehensive Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Center of Excellence. This honor extends to the Mayo Clinic campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.
- Nationally recognized expertise. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center meets the strict standards for a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. These standards recognize scientific excellence and a multispecialty approach focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked as the top hospital in Minnesota and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, is ranked as the top hospital in Arizona.
Locations, travel and lodging
Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.
For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:
Costs and insurance
Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.
In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.
Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.
Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.