Principles of nuclear medicine and equipment

Question 1

what are the 5 main steps in the nuclear medicine timeline

Answer 1

1) preparation of radioactive material
2) injection of radioactive material
3) Gamma camera installation
- installation of camera
- QA of camera
4) Scanning the patient
5) maintain radiation safety

Question 2

who is the source of radiation

Answer 2

the patient

Question 3

what does the injection contain

Answer 3

Gamma ray emitter

Question 4

what collects the emission

Answer 4

the gamma camera

Question 5

what does the gamma camera do

Answer 5

create an image

Question 6

what happens after the image is interpreted

Answer 6

the report is then processed

Question 7

name 4 ways that NM equipment is different from other modalities

Answer 7

1) functional imaging
2) long scan time (15mins-2 hours)
3) multiple attendance on same day/over 2 days
4) staff in-restricted into scan room so more contact with patient

Question 8

Name 3 radioactive elements

Answer 8

1) Mostly Tc99m based
2) also iodine based
3) other

Question 9

name 5 properties of Tc99m

Answer 9

1) ideal for imaging
2) 140keV
3) half life 6 hours
4) biological half life is low
5) safe to work with

Question 10

name 2 properties of iodine based elements

Answer 10

1) various half lives and energies

2) for imaging and therapy

Question 11

how far in advance do you have to pre-book doses

Answer 11

12-24 hours in advance

Question 12

what 3 things must be performed when doing NM injections

Answer 12

1) in accordance to local rules and guidance
2) by appropriately trained staff
3) in a way to reduce radiation dose to staff and other

Question 13

what does Tc99m standard for

Answer 13

Technetium 99 isotope

Question 14

how can venous injections be done

Answer 14

via cannula or butterfly needle

Question 15

what is the purpose of syringe guards

Answer 15

protects from unnecessary radiation

Question 16

what must you do before administrating an injection

Answer 16

double check the dose

Question 17

why must you give appropriate instructions to the patient before they leave

Answer 17

as they still remain radioactive even when they leave the department

Question 18

what are the 5 components of the gamma camera

Answer 18

1) collimator
2) crystal
3) PM tubes
4) Amplifiers
5) decoding/display

Question 19

If the gamma camera is not working

Answer 19

the injection is NOT JUSTIFIED

Question 20

How is radiation safety kept in NM- 4 things

Answer 20

1) IRMER 2000
2) IRR(99)
3) environment agency licencing
4) QA testing

Question 21

what are the three things that require environment agency licencing

Answer 21

1) open sources- injections etc
2) closed sourced- testing equipment
3) waste- clinical and patient waste

Question 22

name 2 daily QA checks

Answer 22

1) uniform camera head checks

2) PM tube checks

Question 23

name 2 monthly QA checks

Answer 23

1) centre of rotation

2) longer acquisition uniformity checks

Question 24

name 3 environmental QA checks

Answer 24

1) daily checking for radiation spills in all areas
2) hazard lights
3) cleanliness

Question 25

Name 5 ways in NM that dose reduction is performed

Answer 25

1) careful vetting of requests
2) individual doses for each patients
- weight dependent for children
- reduced in pregnancy
3) staff training to ensure ALARP adhered to
4) Injection techniques
5) ward information for in-patients