W1 Lec 1. Intro to Nuclear Medicine
What is nuclear medicine? - answer A branch of medical imaging used for both
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes involving the administration of a
radiopharmaceutical to the patient. Gamma radiation is emitted from the sites of uptake
of the radionuclide in the body which are collected and create an image.
What is the main radionuclide used in nuclear medicine? - answer Technetium 99m
What is the role of a nuclear medicine technician? (5 things) - answer- Prepare
radiopharmaceuticals in a hot lab
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals
- Prepare/manage patients
- Perform diagnostic imaging
- Process and analyses acquired images
What is hybrid imaging? - answer The use of an additional imaging modality with
nuclear medicine such as SPECT/CT or PET/CT or PET/MRI
What is the benefit of hybrid imaging? - answerWhen the datasets of nuclear medicine
and CT/MRI are combined, the anatomical information provided by the CT/MRI allow
greater accuracy in the localisation of the uptake of radiopharmaceutical
What is a gamma camera? - answerA machine designed to detect the gamma radiation
emmitted from the patient
What is a generator? - answerProduces radioisotopes to be used by nuclear medicine
techs in creating radiopharmaceuticals
What is a kit? - answerVials which contain pharmaceiticals that are combines with the
radioisotopes to become the radiopharmaceuticals
What is the difference between hot and cold? - answerHot refers to a high concentration
of radioactivity in an area while cold refers to a low concentration
What are some challenges in nuclear medicine? - answer- Radiation safety - including
containing spills (spill of radionuclide itself or bodily fluids from patient with the
radionuclide in their body), minimising exposure, handling and transporting radioactivity.
- Patient compliance - claustrophobic, unable to remain still, refusing due to lack of
understanding/fear of radiation
- Availability of pharmaceuticals/radioisotopes
- Available in certain locations (metropolitan)
What is nuclear medicine? - answer A branch of medical imaging used for both
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes involving the administration of a
radiopharmaceutical to the patient. Gamma radiation is emitted from the sites of uptake
of the radionuclide in the body which are collected and create an image.
What is the main radionuclide used in nuclear medicine? - answer Technetium 99m
What is the role of a nuclear medicine technician? (5 things) - answer- Prepare
radiopharmaceuticals in a hot lab
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals
- Prepare/manage patients
- Perform diagnostic imaging
- Process and analyses acquired images
What is hybrid imaging? - answer The use of an additional imaging modality with
nuclear medicine such as SPECT/CT or PET/CT or PET/MRI
What is the benefit of hybrid imaging? - answerWhen the datasets of nuclear medicine
and CT/MRI are combined, the anatomical information provided by the CT/MRI allow
greater accuracy in the localisation of the uptake of radiopharmaceutical
What is a gamma camera? - answerA machine designed to detect the gamma radiation
emmitted from the patient
What is a generator? - answerProduces radioisotopes to be used by nuclear medicine
techs in creating radiopharmaceuticals
What is a kit? - answerVials which contain pharmaceiticals that are combines with the
radioisotopes to become the radiopharmaceuticals
What is the difference between hot and cold? - answerHot refers to a high concentration
of radioactivity in an area while cold refers to a low concentration
What are some challenges in nuclear medicine? - answer- Radiation safety - including
containing spills (spill of radionuclide itself or bodily fluids from patient with the
radionuclide in their body), minimising exposure, handling and transporting radioactivity.
- Patient compliance - claustrophobic, unable to remain still, refusing due to lack of
understanding/fear of radiation
- Availability of pharmaceuticals/radioisotopes
- Available in certain locations (metropolitan)
