MASSACHUSETTS NUCLEAR MEDICINE
TECHNOLOGIST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of a gamma camera in nuclear
medicine?
A. To measure blood pressure
B. To detect gamma radiation emitted from
radiopharmaceuticals
C. To produce X-rays
D. To monitor heart rate
Rationale: A gamma camera is designed to detect gamma
photons emitted from radiopharmaceuticals inside the body,
allowing imaging of physiological processes.
Answer: B. To detect gamma radiation emitted from
radiopharmaceuticals
2. Which of the following is a common radiopharmaceutical
used for thyroid imaging?
A. Tc-99m MDP
B. I-131 sodium iodide
,C. F-18 FDG
D. Ga-67 citrate
Rationale: Iodine-131 is actively taken up by thyroid tissue and
used for both imaging and therapy. Tc-99m MDP is used for
bone scans, F-18 FDG for PET imaging, and Ga-67 for
infection/tumor imaging.
Answer: B. I-131 sodium iodide
3. Which unit is used to measure the activity of a
radiopharmaceutical?
A. Sievert (Sv)
B. Becquerel (Bq)
C. Gray (Gy)
D. Roentgen (R)
Rationale: Activity refers to the number of decays per second,
measured in Becquerels (Bq). Gray and Sievert measure
absorbed dose and biological effect, respectively.
Answer: B. Becquerel (Bq)
4. What is the half-life of Tc-99m?
A. 6 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 2 hours
D. 12 hours
,Rationale: Tc-99m has a physical half-life of approximately 6
hours, which allows sufficient imaging time while minimizing
radiation dose.
Answer: A. 6 hours
5. Which imaging modality combines functional and
anatomical imaging?
A. PET/CT
B. MRI
C. SPECT
D. Ultrasound
Rationale: PET/CT combines the functional imaging of PET with
the anatomical detail of CT, providing both metabolic and
structural information.
Answer: A. PET/CT
6. Which radiopharmaceutical is commonly used for bone
scans?
A. Tc-99m MDP
B. I-123
C. F-18 NaF
D. Ga-68 DOTATATE
, Rationale: Tc-99m MDP binds to bone matrix and is widely
used for detecting bone metastases or fractures. F-18 NaF is
another bone agent used in PET.
Answer: A. Tc-99m MDP
7. Which principle is essential for radiation protection?
A. Time, Distance, Shielding
B. Pressure, Temperature, Volume
C. Energy, Mass, Motion
D. Frequency, Wavelength, Amplitude
Rationale: The core principles of radiation protection are
minimizing exposure time, maximizing distance, and using
appropriate shielding.
Answer: A. Time, Distance, Shielding
8. What is the primary organ at risk for I-131 therapy?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Thyroid
D. Lungs
Rationale: I-131 is selectively taken up by thyroid tissue, so the
thyroid is the primary organ receiving radiation dose.
Answer: C. Thyroid
TECHNOLOGIST EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026
|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary purpose of a gamma camera in nuclear
medicine?
A. To measure blood pressure
B. To detect gamma radiation emitted from
radiopharmaceuticals
C. To produce X-rays
D. To monitor heart rate
Rationale: A gamma camera is designed to detect gamma
photons emitted from radiopharmaceuticals inside the body,
allowing imaging of physiological processes.
Answer: B. To detect gamma radiation emitted from
radiopharmaceuticals
2. Which of the following is a common radiopharmaceutical
used for thyroid imaging?
A. Tc-99m MDP
B. I-131 sodium iodide
,C. F-18 FDG
D. Ga-67 citrate
Rationale: Iodine-131 is actively taken up by thyroid tissue and
used for both imaging and therapy. Tc-99m MDP is used for
bone scans, F-18 FDG for PET imaging, and Ga-67 for
infection/tumor imaging.
Answer: B. I-131 sodium iodide
3. Which unit is used to measure the activity of a
radiopharmaceutical?
A. Sievert (Sv)
B. Becquerel (Bq)
C. Gray (Gy)
D. Roentgen (R)
Rationale: Activity refers to the number of decays per second,
measured in Becquerels (Bq). Gray and Sievert measure
absorbed dose and biological effect, respectively.
Answer: B. Becquerel (Bq)
4. What is the half-life of Tc-99m?
A. 6 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 2 hours
D. 12 hours
,Rationale: Tc-99m has a physical half-life of approximately 6
hours, which allows sufficient imaging time while minimizing
radiation dose.
Answer: A. 6 hours
5. Which imaging modality combines functional and
anatomical imaging?
A. PET/CT
B. MRI
C. SPECT
D. Ultrasound
Rationale: PET/CT combines the functional imaging of PET with
the anatomical detail of CT, providing both metabolic and
structural information.
Answer: A. PET/CT
6. Which radiopharmaceutical is commonly used for bone
scans?
A. Tc-99m MDP
B. I-123
C. F-18 NaF
D. Ga-68 DOTATATE
, Rationale: Tc-99m MDP binds to bone matrix and is widely
used for detecting bone metastases or fractures. F-18 NaF is
another bone agent used in PET.
Answer: A. Tc-99m MDP
7. Which principle is essential for radiation protection?
A. Time, Distance, Shielding
B. Pressure, Temperature, Volume
C. Energy, Mass, Motion
D. Frequency, Wavelength, Amplitude
Rationale: The core principles of radiation protection are
minimizing exposure time, maximizing distance, and using
appropriate shielding.
Answer: A. Time, Distance, Shielding
8. What is the primary organ at risk for I-131 therapy?
A. Kidney
B. Liver
C. Thyroid
D. Lungs
Rationale: I-131 is selectively taken up by thyroid tissue, so the
thyroid is the primary organ receiving radiation dose.
Answer: C. Thyroid
