Basic Physics of Nuclear Medicine

So a second alternative title for this chapter is **Methods of Getting onto the Nuclear Stability Curve**. We are going to follow a descriptive or phenomenological approach to the topic here by describing in a fairly simple fashion what is known about each of the major decay mechanisms. Once again y

In this chapter, we consider the topic from a more general analytical perspective. The reason for doing this is so that we can develop a form of thinking which will help us to understand what is going on in a quantitative, mathematical sense. We will be introduced to concepts such as the **Decay Con

By doing so we will gain an appreciation of the various quantities that can be measured before considering the units which are used to express such measurements. So, we will first of all consider a typical radiation situation and then go on to consider the various units of measurement. ## A Typical

We have focussed in previous chapters on the source of radiation and the types of radiation. We are now in a position to consider what happens when this radiation interacts with matter. Our main reason for doing this is to find out what happens to the radiation as it passes through matter and also t

These small flashes of light might be green or blue or some other colour depending on the scintillator. We could also count the number of flashes produced to gain an estimate of the radioactivity of the source, that is the more flashes of light seen the more radiation present. The scintillation dete

Before considering these topics, some general comments are required about the form in which information is handled by computers as well as the technology which underpins the development of computers so that a context can be placed on our discussion. ## Binary Representation Virtually all computers i

[Fourier]( methods are described below in quite general terms. We will see that any waveform can be broken up mathematically into [sine waves]( of different amplitudes and frequencies using the [Fourier transform]( We will also see that the resulting Fourier Spectrum can be modified to enhance and/o

The need for attenuation compensation in SPECT imaging has been understood for many years but it has only been in recent times that effective techniques have been applied in commercial systems. Gamma rays get attenuated by the medium through which they pass, as we've seen [earlier]( via photoelectri

Access to images is enabled through the high speed local area network which distributes the images to clinical and diagnostic workstations, to a Web server and to a teleradiology server for dispatch to remote sites via a wide area network ( WAN ). Glossary – HIS : Hospital Information System; RIS :

This chapter overviews the **MIRD** method of estimating doses in nuclear medicine and gives results of surveys of typical patient doses for a small range of examinations. Doses from X-ray CT surveys are also given for comparison purposes, and to aid with your appreciation of the dosimetric impact o

These fragments form new nuclei which are usually radioactive; - **Alpha Decay**: Two protons and two neutrons leave the nucleus together in an assembly known as an **alpha-particle**; - An alpha-particle is a He-4 nucleus; - **Beta Decay – Electron Emission**: Certain nuclei with an excess of neutr

One method of gaining such knowledge is through mathematical simulation of the physiological system. The outcomes of this approach include generating a representation of the entire system as well as an understanding of interactions between its component parts. The approach typically involves: 1. obt

In addition, the shape of the each curve is dependent on the rate at which the tracer: - enters the kidneys via the renal arterial system, and - leaves the kidneys via the ureters. The rate of entry of the tracer into the kidney is called the **input rate**, I(t), and depends on: - the plasma concen

An overview of basic features of sonographic imaging is provided in this chapter. We'll start with a consideration of relevant characteristics of sound waves before describing various imaging methods. ## Sound Waves [Sound waves]( travelling through air consist of periodic fluctuations in air pressu

A theoretical background to this technique will first be developed below with the discussion leading towards [Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry]( (**DEXA**). ## Dual-Energy Radiography Dual-energy imaging is based on exploiting the difference in the attenuation of tissue and bone at different X- ray