Nuclear Medicine Rport 1

[abu-joud]

Description: of nuclear medicine
This is special from other type of Imaging modality (e.g. CT, MRI), using the radioactivity in the form of liquid, capsule and gases for diagnostic imaging procedures. The most widely used radioactivity in Nuclear Medicine is 99m Tc (Technetium) which in liquid form, more optimum energy level (140Kev) for imaging, pure gamma emitter. In Nuclear Medicine Department the most imaging procedures are for diagnosis purpose, but there also some therapeutic procedures like 131I treatment for Graves Diseases.
The radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine imaging produce gamma rays. Apart from their sources, gamma rays are identical to X-Rays. The gamma camera consists of a collimator, a Cristal INa and an array of photomultiper tubes connected to a computer. Gamma rays are emitted from the patient in all directions.
This would result in a blurred image so a collimator is required. This absorbs all photons except those emanating from tissues directly perpendicular to it, resulting in a sharp image on the screen. The image differs from a radiograph in that it reflects function rather than structure alone.
By selecting a radiopharmaceutical with appropriate properties, a range of organs and functions can be examined. Technetium-99m (99mTc) is used for most examinations. It produces only gamma rays - no harmful alpha or beta particles. It has a half-life of 6 hours, allowing time for the image acquisition but decaying to negligible levels in a day or two. It is readily obtainable from a portable molybdenum generator and, being a transitional element, can be easily bound to a range of organic compounds with appropriate pharmacological properties. 99mTc-labelled hepatoiminodiacetic acid (99mTc/HIDA) is useful in hepatobiliary imaging as its secretion is similar to that of bile. For perfusion lung scanning, the isotope 99mTc-lablelled macroaggregated albumin is used. The small particles labeled with the isotope demonstrate pulmonary perfusion.

The radiopharmaceuticals are prepared in hot lab. It is located in the department we were doing all type of labelling. All radiopharmaceuticals were prepared in hot lab in morning at 7:30 a.m. (e.g. TC , HDP, DTPA, etc) The radioactivity must be ready at 8:00a.m. for injection. Before injection we have to calculate the correct dose to the patient according to the weight of the patient. In hot lab we were preparing isotopes from Generators (99Mo generator). This process is called eluting. First elute (99mTc) Technetium from Generator and the labelling with desired cold kits (e.g. MDP, DTPA, etc) injecting to the patient. The quality control of labelling efficiency should be done before injection. It should be above 95%.

There are different procedures of Imaging in Nuclear Medicine. Like static and dynamic scanning, planar and SPECT acquisition. Whole body scanning also done to all type of bone scans. Depending on the energy level of isotope, we have to change the protocol and collimators. SPECT acquisition is used more frequently for the cardiac patient.
All types of internal organ studies were done. (e.g. bone, renal, liver, etc) cardiac perfusion studies were most widely done . Lung perfusion scan and G.I. bleeding scan were done .


Head of department is Dr.Habeeb and Mr.Nabeel.
Gamma camera
A gamma camera is a device used to image gamma radiation emitting radioisotopes, a technique known as scintigraphy. The applications of scintigraphy include early drug development and nuclear medical imaging to view and analyse images of the human body of the distribution of medically injected, inhaled, or ingested radionuclides emitting gamma rays.
(wikipedia)
BMD:Used to determine mineral density