Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Physics, Instrumentation, and Radiation Biology

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. Basic Nuclear Medicine Physics
	Properties and structure of matter
		Atomic structure
	Radioactivity
		Decay notation
		Half-life
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 2. Interaction of Radiation with Matter
	Interaction of photons with matter
		Types of photon interactions in matter
		Attenuation of photons in matter
	Interaction of charged particles with matter
		Excitation
		Ionization
		Annihilation
		Bremsstrahlung
	Reference
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 3. Formation of Radionuclides
	Generators
		Activity curves for generators
	Cyclotrons
	Reactors
		Reactor basics
		Fission
		Neutron capture
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 4. Nonscintillation Detectors
	Gas-filled detectors
		Principles of measurement
	Characteristics of the major voltage regions applied across a gas-filled detector
		Sensitivity
		Types of gas-filled detector
	Semiconductor detectors
		Introduction
		Semiconductor materials
	Photographic and luminescent detectors
		Photographic detectors
		Thermoluminescent and optically luminescent detectors
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 5. Scintillation Detectors
	Structure
	Scintillation crystals
		Photomultiplier tubes
		Amplifiers
		Pulse-height analyzer
	Sodium iodide detector energy spectrum
		Photopeak
		Effect of surrounding matter on the energy spectrum
	Characteristics of scintillation detectors
		Energy resolution
		Decay time
		Efficiency
	Types of scintillation-based detectors
		Thyroid probe
		Well counter
		Liquid scintillation counters
		Dosimeters and area monitors
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 6. Imaging Instrumentation
	Theory and structure
		Components of the imaging system
	Planar imaging
		Image acquisition
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 7. Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
	Equipment
		Types of camera
		Angle of rotation of heads
		Two-headed cameras: fixed and adjustable
	Acquisition
		Arc of acquisition
		Number of projection tomographic views
		Collection times
		Step-and-shoot vs. continuous acquisition
		Patient motion and sinograms
	Dedicated cardiac SPECT cameras
	Quantitation of lesion activity in SPECT studies
	Questions
Chapter 8. Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
	Advantages of PET imaging
		Sensitivity
		Resolution
		Radiopharmaceuticals
	PET camera components
		Crystals
		Photomultipliers
		Pulse-height analyzers, timing discriminators, and coincidence circuits
		Septa
	Factors affecting resolution in PET imaging
		Positron range in tissue
		Parallax error
	Attenuation in PET imaging
		Attenuation correction
	Standard uptake values
	References
	Questions
Chapter 9. X-ray Computed Tomography (CT)
	X-ray production
	X-ray imaging
	Computed tomography
		Overview
		Multislice detector configuration
		Axial and helical scanning
		Hounsfield units
	Questions
Chapter 10. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
	Background
		Spin
		Magnetism
		Magnetic moments
	Introduction to MRI
		Application of the magnetic field
		Application of radiofrequency pulses
		The MR signal
		Signal readout: spin–echo and inversion-recovery
		Signal localization
		Contrast manipulation in MR imaging
		MRI scanner
	References
Chapter 11. Hybrid Imaging Systems: PET-CT, SPECT-CT, and PET-MRI
	PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging
		PET-CT
		SPECT-CT
	Current limitations in SPECT-CT and PET-CT hybrid imaging
		Breathing artifacts
		Contrast agent artifacts
	PET-MR imaging
		Introduction
		PET-MR scanner design
		Attenuation correction
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 12. Image Reconstruction, Processing, and Display
	Reconstruction
		Filtered backprojection
		Iterative reconstruction
		Resolution recovery
	Postreconstruction image processing
		Multiplanar reformatting
		Advanced display techniques
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 13. Information Technology
	Network
	DICOM
	PACS
	Information systems
	Additional DICOM capabilities
	Questions
	Answers
Chapter 14. Quality Control
	Nonimaging devices
		Survey meters
		Crystal scintillation detectors: well counters and thyroid probes
		Chi-square test
	Imaging
		Planar gamma camera
		SPECT
		PET
		Image quality
		CT
		Spatial (high-contrast) resolution
		Hybrid system testing
	Reference
Chapter 15. Radiation Biology
	Radiation Units
		Radiation absorbed dose (rad)
	The effects of radiation on living organisms
		Cellular effects
		Tissue effects
		Heritable and cancer effects
	References
Chapter 16. Radiation Dosimetry
	Nuclear medicine dosimetry
		Physical, biologic, and effective half-lives
		Calculation of organ doses
		Effective dose
	CT dosimetry
		Absorbed dose in CT
	Reference
	Questions
Chapter 17. Radiation Safety
	Rationale
	Dose limits
		Occupational exposure
		Hospital workers
		Exposure to the general public
	Methods for limiting exposure
		Limiting occupational exposure
		Limiting exposure to patients
		Limiting exposure to family members and the public
	Regulations
	References
	Questions
Chapter 18. Radiopharmaceutical Therapy
	Introduction
		Paired diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals
	Tissue-specific radiopharmaceutical treatments
		The thyroid gland and radioiodine
		223Ra-dichloride and treatment of bone metastatic disease
		Radioactive 90Y-microsphere treatment of liver tumors
	Radiation protection
		Written directives
		Dose preparation
		Dose calibrator measurement of beta and alpha emitters
		Dose administration
		Post-therapy radiation precautions
	References
Chapter 19. Management of Nuclear Event Casualties
	Interaction of radiation with tissue
		Alpha particles
		Beta particles
		Gamma rays and X-rays
		Neutrons
	Radionuclides
	Hospital response to a radiation accident
	Exposure and contamination
	Hospital facilities
		Decontamination facility
		Treatment/decontamination room for seriously wounded individuals
	External decontamination
		Patient radiation survey
		Survey meter
	Personnel
		Personal protection
		Reducing exposure
		Dosimeters
	Evaluation of the radiation accident victim
		Early estimation of whole-body radiation exposure
		Early estimation of local radiation exposure
	Acute radiation sickness
		Acute radiation syndromes
		Treatment of acute radiation sickness
		Treatment of internal contamination
	Local radiation injury to the skin
	Medical and industrial accidental overexposure
	References
Appendix A: Common Nuclides
Appendix B: Major Dosimetry for Common Pharmaceuticals
Appendix C: Guide to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Publications
	Title 10, “Energy”, Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR) [1]
	NUREG – 1556, Vol. 9, Revision 3, Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses [2]
	References
Appendix D: Recommended Reading by Topic
	Review of Basic Physics
	Nuclear Medicine
	Basic Nuclear Medicine Physics and Instrumentation
	PET Technology
	CT Technology
	MRI Technology
	DICOM and Information Technology
	Nuclear Medicine Quality Control
	Radiobiology
	Radiation Dosimetry
	NRC Regulations
	Therapeutics in Nuclear Medicine
	Radiation Accidents
Index
EULA