Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/26/98
DMI260 19986-20035	L+L	9 Credit(s)	11 Period(s)
Nuclear Imaging Theory I
Scientific mathematics, atomic theory, and principles of radiation. Study of radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, interactions between radiation and matter, and behavior prediction. Detection systems and counting statistics. Basic electronics including analog and digital circuits. Components of the Anger camera. Multicrystal camera and tomographic systems. Computers and related hardware. Radiation safety to include terminology, units of dose/exposure and radioisotope use. Recordkeeping and quality control techniques. Radiation protection practices. Personnel and environmental monitoring, spill procedures and licensing. Prerequisites: Admission to the Nuclear Medicine Program or permission of program director.

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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
DMI260   19986-20035	Nuclear Imaging Theory I

1.	Apply specific mathematical and physics functions to include scientific notation, algebraic manipulations, powers, exponents, common and natural logarithms. (I)
2.	Define and describe atomic structure to include terminology, history and theories, composition, models, energy forces, ions and ionization and nomenclature. (II)
3.	Describe principles of radiation to include terminology, history, types of radiation, production mechanisms, units of measurement. (III)
4.	Describe and apply principles of radioactive decay to include principles of stability, decay modes, decay schemes, mathematics, and chart of nuclides. (IV)
5.	Explain nuclear reactions to include spontaneous reactions, particle bombardment, nuclear reaction equations, neutron activation, radionuclide production, parent/daughter equilibria relationships. (V)
6.	Describe the interactions between radiation and matter to include particulate, gamma and x-ray interactions. (VI)
7.	Apply principles and equations that predict the behavior of nuclear reactions and radioactive decay. (VII)
8.	Explain the components and operation of gas-filled and scintillation detectors. (VIII)
9.	Demonstrate the components and performance characteristics for Anger scintillation cameras. (IX)
10.	Explain the operation, function of Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (S.P.E.C.T.) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging systems. (X)
11.	Demonstrate the components and performance characteristics of the multicrystal scintillation camera. (XI)
12.	List and define measures of central tendency, populations and samples (XII)
13.	Describe and solve problems including counting statistics to include Poisson and Gaussian distributions, counting reliability, Chi-square test, and propagation of errors. (XIII)
14.	Describe the use of computers and computer hardware in nuclear medicine procedures. (XIV)
15.	Demonstrate quality control for the operation of nuclear medicine imaging, non-imaging, and other specific instrumentation. (XV)
16.	Describe and apply units of dose and exposure. (XVI)
17.	State the Nuclear Regulatory Commission maximum dose limits, for body parts, radiation workers, and the general public. (XVII)
18.	Explain radiation protection practices for the use of radioisotopes and protective equipment. (XVIII)
19.	Explain the specific types of Radioactive Materials Licenses (RAM), and the different uses of radiopharmaceuticals licensed. (XIX)
20.	Explain Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations ( Code of Federal Regulations) regarding the posting of work place and instructions to workers, standards of protection and signage, As Low as Reasonably Allowable (A.L.A.R.A.), Radiation Safety Committee and Radiation Safety Officer, Quality Control of equipment and sealed sources, and misadministrations. (XX)
21.	Describe and demonstrate the proper procedure for receiving, storing, dispensing, and disposing of radiopharmaceuticals. (XXI)
22.	Describe the decontamination procedures, monitoring, and reports related to spill procedures. (XXII)
23.	Describe and demonstrate the proper procedure for an oral therapy dose to minimize radiation exposure and contamination. (XXIII)

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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
DMI260   19986-20035	Nuclear Imaging Theory I

I. Mathematical Functions A. Scientific notation B. Algebraic manipulations C. Powers D. Exponents E. Common and natural logarithms II. Atomic Theory A. Terminology B. History and theories C. Composition D. Models E. Energy forces F. Ions and Ionization G. Nomenclature III. Principles of Radiation A. Terminology B. History C. Types of radiation D. Production mechanisms E. Units of measurement IV. Radioactive Decay A. Principles of stability B. Decay modes C. Decay schemes D. Decay mechanisms E. Chart of nuclides V. Nuclear Reactions A. Spontaneous reactions B. Particle bombardment C. Nuclear reaction equations D. Radionuclide production 1. fission vs. fusion 2. reactor production 3. particle acceleration 4. generators E. Parent/daughter equilibria VI. Interactions between Radiation and Matter A. Particulate 1. alpha 2. negatrons 3. positrons B. Gamma and x-ray 1. scatter mechanisms 2. absorption mechanisms VII. Principles and Equations A. Equations for radioactive decay B. Equations for expressing nuclear reactions C. Trilinear Chart of Nuclides VIII. Gas-filled and Scintillation Detectors A. Gas-filled detectors 1. operation 2. ion chambers 3. proportional counters 4. geiger-Muller counter 5. survey meter B. Scintillation detectors 1. operation 2. components 3. liquid scintillation systems IX. Anger Scintillation Cameras A. Historical development B. System components 1. collimator 2. positioning circuitry 3. summation circuits 4. pulse-height analyzer 5. scalers 6. crystal 7. photomultiplier tubes 8. image display and recording C. Multiformat imagers D. Video formatters E. Whole-body systems F. Performance characteristics 1. collimator 2. spatial resolution 3. sensitivity 4. linearity 5. uniformity 6. energy resolution 7. counting rate limitations 8. count density 9. image contrast X. Tomographic Systems A. Types 1. single photon emission computerized tomography (S.P.E.C.T.) 2. positron emission tomography (P.E.T.) XI. Multicrystal Scintillation Cameras A. Historical development B. System components C. Performance characteristics 1. spatial resolution 2. sensitivity 3. uniformity 4. energy calibration 5. counting rate XII. Statistics A. Systematic and random error B. Precision and accuracy C. Standard deviation D. Mean, median, and mode XIII. Nuclear Counting Statistics A. Poisson and Gaussian distributions B. Counting reliability C. Chi-square test D. Propagation of errors XIV. Computers and Related Hardware A. Types of computers B. Computer hardware 1. central processing unit (CPU) 2. memory 3. input/output devices C. Software languages 1. machine 2. assembly 3. higher level (BASIC, FORTRAN, etc.) 4. specific system software D. Nuclear medicine computer system 1. gamma camera/computer interface 2. acquisition modes 3. memory 4. display systems E. Data processing programs XV. Quality Control A. Non-imaging 1. dose calibration 2. linearity 3. accuracy 4. precision 5. temperature and pressure corrections 6. energy resolution 7. daily calibration B. Imaging 1. spatial resolution 2. linearity 3. uniformity 4. energy resolution 5. counting rate limitations 6. measurement techniques 7. frequency C. Other instrumentation 1. computers 2. photographic devices XVI. Units of Dose and Exposure A. Exposure 1. roentgen 2. coulombs/kilogram (C/kg) B. Absorbed dose 1. radiation absorbed dose (rad) 2. gray (Gy) C. Dose Equivalent 1. oentgen equivalent man (rem) 2. sievert (Sv) D. Calculations and conversions XVII. NRC Dose-limiting Recommendations A. Occupational exposures 1. total effective dose equivalency (T.E.D.E.) 2. eye 3. skin/extremity B. Public 1. total effective dose equivalency (T.E.D.E.) 2. unrestricted area (milliroentgen/hour) C. Embryo-fetus D. Planned special exposure XVIII. Radiation Protection Practices A. Distance B. Shielding 1. alpha shielding 2. beta shielding 3. gamma shielding 4. half-value layer C. Time D. Protective equipment 1. gloves 2. syringe shields 3. special handling techniques E. Film badges/monitoring XIX. Licensing A. Types 1. general license 2. specific institutional license 3. broad institutional license B. Uses of radiopharmaceuticals C. Investigational New Drug (I.N.D.'s) and New Drug Application (N.D.A.'s) XX. Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations A. 10 CFR Part 19 B. 10 CFR Part 20 1. standards for protection 2. caution signs C. 10 CFR Part 35 1. as low as reasonably achievable (A.L.A.R.A.) 2. radiation safety committee (R.S.C.) 3. radiation safety officer (R.S.O.) 4. misadministrations 5. dose calibrators 6. survey instrument calibration 7. measurement of radiopharmaceutical doses 8. syringe and vial shields 9. sealed sources 10. aerosols and gases XXI. Radioactive materials use and disposal A. Receipt B. Dispense/store C. Disposal 1. decay-in-storage 2. ventilation 3. sewage 4. other XXII. Spill Procedures A. Minor Spill 1. decontamination procedures 2. monitoring requirements 3. reports and records B. Major Spill 1. decontamination procedures 2. monitoring requirements 3. reports and records XXIII. Radiopharmaceutical Therapy A. Nursing instructions 1. training 2. documentation B. Safety Precautions 1. patient control 2. visitor control 3. contamination control 4. radiation safety officer (R.S.O.) responsibilities C. Dose administration 1. positive patient identification 2. informed consent 3. pregnancy testing D. Measurement of exposure rates 1. survey of restricted and unrestricted areas 2. posting of room, bed, and chart E. Follow-up 1. bioassays 2. patient discharge 3. decontamination 4. waste disposal F. Record keeping and reporting

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