Nuclear Medicine Flashcards

Flashcards for Nuclear Medicine lecture review.

Nuclear Medicine

Specialized area of radiology using radioactive materials to examine organ function and structure.

Radiopharmaceuticals

Radioactive materials used in nuclear medicine to examine a body's organ function and structure.

Radiology

Uses beams of radiation to produce images of body structures, primarily showing anatomy.

Nuclear Medicine

Uses radioactive materials ingested, injected, or inhaled to show organ function (physiology).

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Prepares and administers radionuclides to patients and performs imaging procedures.

Radiation

Energy traveling through a vacuum or medium, ultimately absorbed by another body.

Ionizing Radiation

High-energy radiation that can ionize an atom upon colliding with it, emitting more radiation (e.g., gamma rays, X-rays).

Non-ionizing Radiation

Low-energy radiation (e.g., microwaves, radio waves, sunlight, thermal radiation).

Gamma Camera

Main equipment in Nuclear Medicine; does not contain radiation, and uses a collimator as its 'lens'.

Collimator

The 'lens' of the gamma camera in nuclear medicine.

Thyroid Scan

A common nuclear medicine procedure to assess the size and function of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid Scan Isotopes

Uses 131I or 99mTc-pertechnetate for imaging.

Normal Thyroid Size

Approximately 4x2cm, with 2 lobes connected by an isthmus.

Thyroid Scan Nodule Assessment

Detects if thyroid nodules are 'hot' or 'cold,' indicating hyper- or hypothyroidism.

Whole Body Iodine Scan

Checks the staging of thyroid cancer and detects metastasis.

Bone Scintigraphy

Bone scan using 99mTc MDP/HDP, useful in oncology planning and management.

Bone Scan Sensitivity

Can detect a 5% bone turnover.

Radiograph Sensitivity

Requires a 50% minimum mineral loss before a lesion is visualized.

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Detects and diagnoses coronary artery disease and assesses its functional significance.

Normal Stress Perfusion Study Risk

The risk of cardiac death and myocardial infarction in a patient with a normal stress perfusion study is < 1% annually.

Myocardial Ischemia

Narrowing of blood vessels in the heart.

Myocardial Infarction

Obstruction of blood supply to the heart, resulting in tissue damage.

PET

Positron Emission Tomography, used to assess tissue metabolism and function.

PET Uses

Establish if a patient is responsive to chemotherapy.

PET/CT

Combination of CT scanning and PET for better localization of lesions.

Scintimammography

Uses 99mTc-sestamibi to detect cancer cells in the breasts and axillae.

Scintimammography Indications

Used in patients with abnormal mammograms, dense breasts, and post-operatively.

Renal Scintigraphy

Evaluates perfusion, cortical, and excretory functions of the kidneys.

Hepatobiliary Scan (HIDA)

Uses hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid to diagnose acute and chronic cholecystitis and biliary atresia.

HIDA Scan Uses

Provides information on post-surgical bile drainage and biliary leakage.

Lung Perfusion Scan

Used for the detection of pulmonary embolism.

V/Q Scan

Identifies ventilation-perfusion mismatch in the lungs.

Pulmonary Embolism Management

Management involves giving heparin to patients.

Radionuclide Therapies

Uses beta particles for therapeutic purposes.

Radioactive Iodine Treatment

Used for treating thyroid diseases via oral administration.

Radioactive Iodine Mechanism

Iodine goes directly to thyroid tissue and emits beta particles to shrink and normalize the gland.

Radioactive Iodine Indications

Used for hyperthyroidism and differentiated thyroid cancer.

Thyroid Cancer Metastasis Treatment

Radioactive iodine will spread to thyroid gland metastatic lesions to stop the spread.

Function vs. Structure

Nuclear medicine focuses more on function, while radiology primarily looks at structure.

Nuclear Medicine

Can help in diagnosing diseases and treating abnormalities such as thyroid cancer.

Nuclear Medicine

Often used for diagnosis and treatment.

Ionizing Radiation

Can ionize an atom upon colliding with it to emit more radiation.

Common Nuclear Medicine Diagnostic Procedures

Thyroid Scan, Whole Body Iodine Scan, Bone Scan, Myocardial Perfusion Imaging, PET, Scintimammography, Renal Scintigraphy, HIDA, Lung Perfusion Scan

Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism

Can be detected by Thyroid Scan.

Metastasis

Can be detected by Whole Body Iodine Scan.

99mTc MDP/HDP

Used in Bone Scintigraphy/Scan.

Myocardial Ischemia

Narrowing of blood vessels.

PET Possibilities

Establish possibility of tumor especially in areas difficult to access.

99mTc-sestamibi

Used in Scintimammography to detect cancer cells in the breasts and axillae.

Acute and Chronic Cholecystitis, Biliary Atresia

Can be diagnosed with HIDA scan.