Nuclear Medicine -How does it work Gerald R. Aben, MD FACR Department of Radiology College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Nuclear Medicine

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Nuclear Medicine Physiological Imaging

• Radioactive isotopes which emit gamma rays or other ionizing forms (half life for most is hours to days)

• Radionuclides are injected intravenously or inhaled where, depending on substance, they concentrate in organ of study

• The emitted gamma rays are then picked up by gamma camera and displayed

• Special terms used on nuclear medicine reports • Hot, Photon Rich, Cold, Photon Poor, Photopenic

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Nuclear Medicine Physiological Imaging

• Conventional Nuclear Medicine • Emitted gamma rays create image

• SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography)

• Tomographic images of emitted gamma rays • Rotating gamma camera creates 3-D data set • Data set is then manipulated to create volume

images (sum of all images in stack), multiplanar thin section images and 3-D volume data sets

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Gamma Camera

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Bone Scan

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Lung Scan

Ventilation Perfusion

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HIDA Scan

Gallbladder Common

Duct

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CT- PET

CT Scan Section

PET Scan Section

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PET Scanning

• Oncology • Function • Metabolism • Perfusion

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Positron Emission Tomography

• PET (Positron Emission Tomography) • Tomographic images of emitted positrons • Can be used to study metabolic processes • 511 kEv gamma ray Photons emitted simultaneously

at 180 degrees to each other • Evaluate location in space • Fusion imaging with CT scanning for precise

localization

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Nuclear Medicine Physiological Imaging

• Positron Emission Tomography • Radionuclide emits positrons which interact

with electrons to eject gamma rays at 180°

• Use computer to localize in space

Β+

E-

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Gamma ray

Positron

Positron Emission Tomography • Lung Cancer • Mediastinal

Metastasis

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Positron Emission Tomography • Lung Cancer • Metastases • Obstructed right

ureter

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Normal Cardiac Perfusion

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Anterior Wall

Ischemia

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Anterior Wall Ischemia

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13N-Ammonia and 18F-FDG PET-perfusion and viability

perfusion viability 6/12/2012 18 DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY