MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

DMI251  2008 Fall – 2009 Summer II

Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine

1.

Explain the significance of historical contribution to the development of current of the atom. (I)

2.

Discuss concepts related to the atom including general structure, orbital shells, quantum numbers, quantum theory of electromagnetic radiation and the Pauli Exclusion Principle as related to the organization of the atom. (I)

3.

Explain the structure, symbols and abbreviations used in the Periodic Table and the trilinear chart of the nuclides. (I)

4.

Correctly use atomic nomenclature. (I)

5.

Discuss radiation and the atom including various modes of electromagnetic radiation production, natural and artificial radioactivity, wave motion and the calculation of wavelength of energy. (II)

6.

Discuss nuclear structure and the forces associated with nuclear structure and content. (II)

7.

Discuss the concepts of binding energy, energy states and orbital energy levels of electrons. (II)

8.

Describe various types of nuclear transformations. (II)

9.

From a decay scheme, name the parent radionuclide, daughter, half-lives of parent and daughters, types of emissions, energy of emissions and abundance and origin of emissions. (II)

10.

Perform specific calculations used in nuclear medicine including sub-multiple values of Curie and Bequerel, decay rate and activity of a source, decay constant of a radionuclide, mean life of a radionuclide, decay factor, remaining number of nuclei or remaining activity, half-life (or elapse time), effective (biological) half-life, generator yield and the time of maximum daughter activity. (II, III)

11.

Plot the results of an exponential equations using linear and semi-log graph paper. (III)

12.

Describe various nuclear reactions and related equations used to express the reactions. (III)

13.

Apply basic math skills to practical use in the nuclear medicine field to include selected conversions, log calculations and graphing. (III, VI)

14.

Describe particulate interactions with matter including events that occur when alpha, beta minus and positron particles interact with matter. (IV)

15.

Discuss gamma and x-ray interaction with matter including coherent and Compton scatter, photoelectric effect, pair production, photodisintegration, secondary radiation and interaction relationships. (V)

16.

Discuss the concept of half-value layer including use of the equation in shielding materials for radionuclides. (VI)

17.

Distinguish between static, dynamic images, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images, and whole body images settings of instrumentation parameters. (VII, VIII)

18.

Comprehend survey meter distinctions, use and quality control. (VII, IX)

19.

Examine study skills to help with program success. (X)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

DMI251  2008 Fall – 2009 Summer II

Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine

I. Historical View of the Atom

A. Terminology

1. Matter

2. Substance

3. Mixture

4. Compound

5. Element

6. Atom

7. Subatomic particles

8. Nuclide

B. Contributions to theory and experimental evidence of the current concept of the atom and nuclear energy.

II. Structure of the Atom

A. Composition

1. Proton

2. Neutron

3. Electron

4. Neutrinos

5. Antineutrinos

6. Other elemental particles

B. Electron shells and stability

1. Orbitals and suborbitals

2. Pauli exclusion principle

3. Energy states

4. Periodic table

C. Ions and ionization

D. Atomic nomenclature

1. Symbol notation

a. Atomic number

b. Mass number

c. Neutron number

d. Element

e. Valence

2. Isotopes

3. Isobars

4. Isotones

5. Isomers

6. Units of nuclear mass and energy

7. Mass energy equivalents

III. Radiation and the Atom

A. Definition

B. Historical contributions

1. Bequerel

2. The Curies

3. Others associated with early inventions, developments, and applications to the field.

C. Types of Radiation

1. Primary

2. Secondary

3. Electromagnetic

a. Velocity

b. Wavelength

c. Frequency

d. Energy calculations

D. Electromagnetic radiation production mechanisms

1. Atomic

a. Bremsstrahlung

b. Characteristic

(1). Excitation

(2). Electron capture

(3). Internal conversion

(4). Binding energy and energy states

E. Nuclear stability

1. Neutron/proton (n/p) ratio and the line of stability

2. Binding energy

3. Nuclear models

F. Characteristics of radioactive decay

1. Displacement law

2. Nuclear transformation modes

a. Beta minus decay

b. Positron decay

c. Beta and gamma decay sequential

d. Isomeric transition

e. Electron capture

f. Alpha decay

g. Photodisintegration

h. Combination models: electron capture and gamma, positron and gamma

G. Results of nuclear transformation

1. Primary

a. Particles

b. Energy

(1). Beta particle energy spectrum

(2). Maximum and average beta energy

(3). Photons

2. Secondary

a. Internal conversion

b. Characteristic x-rays

c. Auger electrons

3. Decay schemes

a. Components

b. Information obtained

4. Units of activity and exposure

a. Curie (Ci)

b. Radiation absorbed dose (rad)

c. Roentgen equivalent man (rem)

d. Roentgen (r)

e. System International (SI) units

(1). Bequerel (Bq)

(2). Gray (Gy)

(3). Sievert (Sv)

(4). Coulomb/kilogram (C/kg)

5. Specific activity and radioconcentration

6. Trilinear chart of the nuclides

7. Representative equations for radioactive decay

a. Decay equation

(1). Activity

(2). Decay constant

(3). Time

(4). Half-life

(5). Decay factor

b. Pre-calibration and decay calculations

c. Problem solving for decay constant and half-life

d. Solving for a variable in an exponent (i.e., time)

e. Average life

f. Biological and effective half-lives

8. Exponential graphs

a. Plot of exponential equation

(1). Linear

(2). Semi-log

b. Determination of half-life

H. Nuclear reactions

1. Spontaneous

2. Particle bombardment

3. Equations for expressing nuclear reactions

4. Neutron activation

5. Radionuclide production

a. Fission

b. Reactor production

c. Particle acceleration

(1). Linear accelerator

(2). Cyclotron

d. Generators

6. Parent/Daughter equilibrium relationships

a. Secular

b. Transient

c. No equilibrium

d. Calculation of generator yield

e. Calculation of the time of maximum daughter activity

7. Photodisintegration

IV. Particulate Interactions with Matter

A. Alpha

1. Excitation

2. Ionization

3. Transmutation

B. Beta minus particles

1. Excitation

2. Bremsstrahlung

3. Ionization

C. Positrons

1. Origins

2. Interactions

a. Excitation

b. Bremsstrahlung

c. Ionization

d. Annihilation

V. Gamma and X-ray Interaction with Matter

A. Scatter mechanisms

1. Coherent

2. Compton

B. Full "absorption" mechanisms

1. Photoelectric

2. Pair production

3. Photodisintegration

C. Secondary radiation

1. Bremsstrahlung

2. Characteristic radiation

3. Auger number

D. Interaction Relationships

1. Energy

2. Atomic number

VI. Nuclear Medicine Calculations

A. Powers, exponents, roots, and scientific notation

B. Direct and inverse proportions

C. Converting within the metric system

D. Converting between curie and becquerel

E. Converting between rad and gray

F. Converting between pound and kilogram

G. Logs, natural logs and antilogs

H. Graphing on linear and semi-log papers

I. Slope calculation

J. Half value layer (HVL)

VII. Procedure Preparation

A. Room and equipment set-up

1. Dose calibrator

2. Well counter

3. Uptake probe

4. Gamma camera

5. Survey meters

B. Equipment quality control

1. Dose calibrator

2. Well counter

3. Uptake probe

4. Gamma camera

5. Survey meters

C. Patient positioning

1. Supine

2. Prone decubitus

3. Recumbent

4. Anterior

5. Posterior

6. Oblique

7. Left anterior oblique

8. Right anterior oblique

9. Left posterior oblique

10. Right posterior oblique

D. Camera set-up/parameters

1. Collimator

2. Window

3. Acquisition

4. Acquisition type

5. Matrix

6. Photopeak

VIII. Types of Images and Equipment Set Up

A. Static

B. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

C. Whole body

D. Dynamic

IX. Survey and Wipe Tests

A. Department surveys

B. Department wipes

C. Box check in and out

X. Study skills

A. Preparing to study

B. Taking notes

1. From text

2. From lecture

3. From lab

C. Learning styles

D. Goal setting

E. Test Anxiety