Radiopharmacy Flashcards
what is nuclear medicine?
scans that give poor anatomical detail but do show functionality of the organs
what are radiopharmaceuticals made out of?
‘useful molecule’ that allows us to target desired organ
+
radioactive isotope that acts as tag for detection on imaging
Does nuclear medicine show anatomy or function?
function
Do XRAYS and CT show good anatomical detail or good indication of function?
anatomical detail/ anatomy
briefly describe how a gamma camera works? and outcome?
px given radioopharmaceutical + gamma photons detected by detector camera… gives pic of organ
why/how are only gamma photons detected by detector?
as dont interact with tissue= dont directly damage px, but are detected
whats a collimator? what does it detect/not detect?
sheet of lead with holes to allow certain gamma emissions to come out + be detected by detector of gamma camera,
so those at angle arent detected and plotted
what is the measurements used for radiation energy in tissue?
sievert (Sv)
how much is mSv?
1/1000
how much is a microSv?
1/1 000 000
how much bits of energy absorbed is NOT JUST influenced by how radioactive it is, but also by what else?
(what 2 factors affect Sv?)
how its been shielded (lead thickness)
how been stored
effect of shielding/ not shielded vial of radiation, on your abdorbed radiation dose after you sit next to it.
provided same amount of radioactivity in vial?
no shield: your absorbed radiation dose (sc/msv) increase
shield: amount of energy px absorbs lower (msv exposed to)
2 points to philosophy of radiation protection?
- all exposures shall be justified (benefit > risk)
- all exposures shall be kept ALARP
why is ALARP important?
as it means that the radiation given to a px is AS LOW AS REASONABLY POSSIBLE
4 sources of radiation that humans are exposed to in small amounts?
cosmic radiation, radon gas, buildings and food
average natural radiations for UK per year?
2.5mSv. but will inc if have scan etc
why does the soil in cornwall give off the most radon? thus inc mSv?
has the most granite which gives off radon gas
highest radiation workers?
airline staff
several mSv per year
what are effects of long exposure of radiation?
effects the bone marrow
skin reddening / burning
pelvis radiotherapy = diarrhoea
neck radiotherapy = vocal chord damage
what is the main concern of radiation?
carcinogenesis
(normal cells-> cancer cells)
assume risk whatever the dose
what is the radiation risk for 2mSv exposure of harm?
1 in 15 000
what is the inverse square rule?
strength of the X-ray beam is inversely proportional to the square of distance from the source (X)
i.e.
if you decrease the distance from radioactive source by 1 the area of exposure increases by 4
how to reduce and limit radiation exposure?
time
distance
shielding
… sops, staff training, monitoring and feedback
L2:
diagnostic use of radiopharmaceuticals? to get info on …
struc, function or degree of involvement with a disease process of organ/ body tissue