Category Archives: Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine Terms You Might Want To Know

Hariette A.W.

Nuclear Medicine is a specialized area of the Radiologic Technology Field; in order to better grasp the value of this area, there are terms that must be fully understood first and they are listed below:  Bone scans is use to detect diseases of the bone at the earliest possible time. It is often more sensitive than X-rays in diagnosing infections, tumors, and fractures.  Calibration is the act of checking or adjusting (by comparison with a standard) the accuracy of a measuring instrument.  Dose calibrator (radioisotope calibrator) is a device used in radiological research that measures the total Click Here To Read More

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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Cyclotron

Hariette A.W.

Built by Lawrence in 1929 Accelerates positive particles rather than the electrons Uses positively charged particles such as proton, neutron, alphas, deuterons, short- lived radioisotopes Particles are accelerated in a circular chamber called dees The particles are accelerated by electric fields between the dees until the particle acquires the desired energy Powerful magnetic filed are employed to confine the particle to a circular path Protons are not commonly used for radiation therapy In some centers, deuterons produced by cyclotron are brought out and allowed to strike targets of beryllium leading to the production of neutrons, such neutrons can be used Click Here To Read More

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Nuclear Medicine Equipments Used to Take Images

Hariette A.W.

1. Stationary Gamma Camera – Large cameras that are positioned as close to the body as possible. – Patient may sit, stand or lie down, depending on the scan 2. SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography)/Rotating Gamma Cameras – moves while the scan takes place 3. PET (positron emission tomography) Scanner – Patient lie on a table that slides into a tube like opening 4. Probes – Wand like metal tubes that take readings as they are passed over the body – does not enter the body and rarely touches the skin

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