Exam 1 L5 Nuclear Medicine Imaging Questions and Answers

Exam 1 L5 Nuclear Medicine Imaging Questions and Answers What is nuclear medicine? - Answer-Small amount of radioactive substance called radiopharmaceuticals are used for imaging or treating a disease A medical specialty /.What areas/conditions is nuclear medicine used in? - Answer-Endocrinology (thyroid) Cardiovascular (perfusion/venography) Genitourinary (renogram/testicular) Pulmonary (perfusion/ventilation) Skeletal (bone scan) GI (Liver scan, reflux study) Tumor (lymphoma) /.What are advantages of nuclear medicine? - Answer-Functional Very sensitive Quantitative Safe Minimally invasive Low radiation Screening follow-up /.What are disadvantages of nuclear medicine? - Answer-Not widely available Gives minimal radiation Non-specific Requires instruments and radiopharmaceuticals High cost /.What are qualities of an ideal radioisotope? What is the most radioisotope? - Answer-Ideal: Low cost, available, half life = 6 hours, safe, active chemically Most ideal: Tc-99 (Technetium-99) /.What is the process of imaging with nuclear medicine? - Answer-Patient is given radiopharmaceutical Gamma camera detects radioactivity Images produced /.What instruments are used in nuclear medicine? - Answer-Planar gamma camera (scintigraphy or anger camera)