All programmes > Technology and Techniques in Nuclear Medicine

Technology and Techniques in Nuclear Medicine (B-KUL-G0Z64A)

3 ECTSEnglish22 First term
Schramm Georg (coordinator) |  Hesse Michel |  N. |  Goffin Karolien (substitute) |  Schramm Georg (substitute)
POC Medical Physics

Aims

The objectives of the course are to gain theoretical knowledge of the techniques and technology used in nuclear medicine, with an introduction to medical principles. To this end the main nuclear imaging procedures in daily clinical routine are discussed. In addition, new developments in the field of nuclear medicine (diagnosis and therapy) are discussed in some detail.

The specific learning outcomes are:

  • to gain theoretical knowledge of the techniques in nuclear medicine (tomography, image reconstruction, quality control, and dosimetry).
  • acquire knowledge about basic principles of nuclear medicine, the use of radiopharmaceuticals and measuring equipment.
  • obtain basic knowledge about the medical applications in nuclear medicine and be able to apply the theoretical knowledge in these applications.
  • being able to deduce the importance of aspects of 'quality assessment' and 'quality control' in medical applications and to assess and solve potential problems.
  • to acquire knowledge about radiation protection of staff and patients in nuclear medicine.

 

 

Previous knowledge

Basic background in mathematics and in physics.

Order of Enrolment


This course unit is a prerequisite for taking the following course units:
G0Z71A : Medical Physics: Internship 2
G00J9A : Internship in Radiology, Radiotherapy or Nuclear Medicine in vivo

Identical courses

This course is identical to the following courses:
G0F68B : Technologie en technieken in de nucleaire geneeskunde

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

3 ects. Technology and Techniques in Nuclear Medicine (B-KUL-G0Z64a)

3 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture22 First term
Hesse Michel |  N. |  Goffin Karolien (substitute) |  Schramm Georg (substitute)
POC Medical Physics

Content

A. Technical part

  • Brief description of radioactive decay and Poisson noise.
  • Interaction of photons with matter (absorption and scattering of photons).
  • Detection of photons with the gamma camera and the PET camera:
    • a. scintillation crystal, PMT, mechanical and electronic collimation.
    • b. partial volume effect.
    • c. the influence of Compton scattering in SPECT and PET imaging.
    • d. corrections of the raw signal, which are essential in order to obtain a good picture of the radioactive distribution.
  • Imaging:
    • a. planar imaging with the gamma camera.
    • b. tomography SPECT and (TOF-) PET.
  • Transmission Tomography:
    • a. transmission scan with long-lived radioactive source.
    • b. Hybrid PET / CT systems.
  • Quality control of the gamma camera and the PET camera.
  • Well counters, radionuclide calibrators and survey meters.
  • Image analysis:
    • a SUV. standardized uptake value.
    • b. models of tracer kinetics.
    • c. image quality.
  • Dosimetry of radiopharmaceuticals.
  • Radionuclide therapy.

B. Clinical part
1. Basics, radiopharmaceuticals, equipment.
2. Clinical applications of conventional nuclear medicine.

3. Clinical applications of PET-imaging.
4. Clinical applications of radionuclide therapy.
5. Clinical applications of dosimetry and radiation protection.

 

Course material

Course texts

Evaluation

Evaluation: Technology and Techniques in Nuclear Medicine (B-KUL-G2Z64a)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Oral, Written, Take-Home
Type of questions : Open questions

Explanation


Closed book exam for the technical part, closed book for the medical part.

The course will be examined as a whole, not as the mere sum of the results on the technical and medical parts. A minimum score of 8/20 is required for both the technical and the medical part in order to succeed for this course. Otherwise a score of at most 9/20 can be obtained.