MASSACHUSETTS NUCLEAR MEDICINE
TECHNOLOGIST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following radionuclides is most commonly
used for thyroid imaging?
A. Technetium-99m pertechnetate
B. Iodine-131
C. Fluorine-18 FDG
D. Gallium-67
Rationale: The thyroid actively uptakes iodine and
pertechnetate; I-131 is therapeutic and diagnostic in certain
cases, FDG is for metabolic imaging, Gallium-67 is used for
tumor/infection imaging.
Answer: A. Technetium-99m pertechnetate
2. The primary purpose of a collimator in a gamma camera is
to:
A. Amplify the gamma signal
B. Focus gamma photons in a specific direction
C. Convert gamma photons into electrons
D. Reduce background radiation
,Rationale: Collimators allow only photons traveling along
specific paths to reach the detector, improving image
resolution.
Answer: B. Focus gamma photons in a specific direction
3. Which of the following is a beta-emitting radionuclide
commonly used in therapy?
A. Iodine-131
B. Technetium-99m
C. Fluorine-18
D. Gallium-68
Rationale: I-131 emits both beta and gamma; Technetium-99m
and Fluorine-18 are primarily gamma and positron emitters,
respectively.
Answer: A. Iodine-131
4. Half-life of Technetium-99m is approximately:
A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 24 hours
D. 110 minutes
Rationale: Tc-99m has a physical half-life of 6 hours, making it
ideal for diagnostic imaging.
,Answer: A. 6 hours
5. The purpose of a lead shield in nuclear medicine is to:
A. Enhance photon detection
B. Protect staff from radiation exposure
C. Collimate gamma rays
D. Improve image resolution
Rationale: Lead shields reduce radiation dose to technologists
and patients.
Answer: B. Protect staff from radiation exposure
6. Which imaging modality uses positron-emitting
radionuclides?
A. SPECT
B. PET
C. Planar scintigraphy
D. CT
Rationale: PET scanners detect positron annihilation events,
while SPECT detects single-photon emissions.
Answer: B. PET
7. The most commonly used PET radiotracer for oncology is:
, A. Technetium-99m MDP
B. Fluorine-18 FDG
C. Iodine-123
D. Gallium-67
Rationale: FDG is a glucose analog that highlights areas of high
metabolic activity, common in tumors.
Answer: B. Fluorine-18 FDG
8. Quality control of a gamma camera includes all except:
A. Uniformity testing
B. Energy resolution check
C. Patient fasting verification
D. Spatial resolution check
Rationale: QC ensures accurate imaging; patient preparation is
clinical, not equipment QC.
Answer: C. Patient fasting verification
9. Which of the following is true regarding radioactive decay?
A. It is predictable for individual atoms
B. It releases energy in the form of radiation
C. It can be sped up by temperature
D. It always produces alpha particles
TECHNOLOGIST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which of the following radionuclides is most commonly
used for thyroid imaging?
A. Technetium-99m pertechnetate
B. Iodine-131
C. Fluorine-18 FDG
D. Gallium-67
Rationale: The thyroid actively uptakes iodine and
pertechnetate; I-131 is therapeutic and diagnostic in certain
cases, FDG is for metabolic imaging, Gallium-67 is used for
tumor/infection imaging.
Answer: A. Technetium-99m pertechnetate
2. The primary purpose of a collimator in a gamma camera is
to:
A. Amplify the gamma signal
B. Focus gamma photons in a specific direction
C. Convert gamma photons into electrons
D. Reduce background radiation
,Rationale: Collimators allow only photons traveling along
specific paths to reach the detector, improving image
resolution.
Answer: B. Focus gamma photons in a specific direction
3. Which of the following is a beta-emitting radionuclide
commonly used in therapy?
A. Iodine-131
B. Technetium-99m
C. Fluorine-18
D. Gallium-68
Rationale: I-131 emits both beta and gamma; Technetium-99m
and Fluorine-18 are primarily gamma and positron emitters,
respectively.
Answer: A. Iodine-131
4. Half-life of Technetium-99m is approximately:
A. 6 hours
B. 12 hours
C. 24 hours
D. 110 minutes
Rationale: Tc-99m has a physical half-life of 6 hours, making it
ideal for diagnostic imaging.
,Answer: A. 6 hours
5. The purpose of a lead shield in nuclear medicine is to:
A. Enhance photon detection
B. Protect staff from radiation exposure
C. Collimate gamma rays
D. Improve image resolution
Rationale: Lead shields reduce radiation dose to technologists
and patients.
Answer: B. Protect staff from radiation exposure
6. Which imaging modality uses positron-emitting
radionuclides?
A. SPECT
B. PET
C. Planar scintigraphy
D. CT
Rationale: PET scanners detect positron annihilation events,
while SPECT detects single-photon emissions.
Answer: B. PET
7. The most commonly used PET radiotracer for oncology is:
, A. Technetium-99m MDP
B. Fluorine-18 FDG
C. Iodine-123
D. Gallium-67
Rationale: FDG is a glucose analog that highlights areas of high
metabolic activity, common in tumors.
Answer: B. Fluorine-18 FDG
8. Quality control of a gamma camera includes all except:
A. Uniformity testing
B. Energy resolution check
C. Patient fasting verification
D. Spatial resolution check
Rationale: QC ensures accurate imaging; patient preparation is
clinical, not equipment QC.
Answer: C. Patient fasting verification
9. Which of the following is true regarding radioactive decay?
A. It is predictable for individual atoms
B. It releases energy in the form of radiation
C. It can be sped up by temperature
D. It always produces alpha particles
