Recent advances in the field of nuclear medicine (NM) are expanding the role and responsibilities of the nuclear medicine technologist (NMT) to include more complex and detailed tasks. New technologies are making the diagnosis, management, and treatment of illnesses more sensitive, more specific, more accurate, and ultimately safer for both the patient and the technologist.
Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine, Second Edition provides the latest technological advances and expanded responsibilities of today’s NMT while laying a solid foundation for understanding the basic physics behind the technology. As with the original, this edition teaches the units of radioactivity, exposure, and dosimetry, along with the principles of instrumentation needed for detection and measurement. Focusing on the issues of safety, this volume devotes considerable attention to the science and practice of safety techniques and includes information on rules and regulations.
In keeping with the expanding nature of the field, the second edition incorporates many updates and additions such as,
Providing a basic understanding of nuclear medicine, its scientific basis, diagnostic and therapeutic applications, safety practices and regulations, and future directions, Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine, Second Edition is the comprehensive reference for technologists, students, researchers, and other professionals in the Nuclear Medicine.
Principles of Radiation Physics
Rationale
Brief History of Radiation Science
Matter and Energy
Atomic Structure and Radioactivity
Particle Interactions
Gamma Ray Interactions
Gamma Ray Interactions with Lead and Water
Units of Radiation Exposure and Dose
Rationale
Basic Concepts
Other Concepts
Specific Gamma Constant
About S.I. Units
Guidelines for Radiation Protection
Rationale
National and International Agencies
Radiation Safety and the Law
Types of Radiation Effects
Recommended Dose Limits
Radiation Safety Practice
Radiation Detection and Measurement
Rationale
Fundamentals
Gas Detectors
Scintillation Detectors
Imaging Instrumentation
Statistics of Counting
Making Decisions
Minimum Detectable Activity (MDA)
Quality Assurance of Radiation Counters
Radiation Safety in the Nuclear Medicine Department
Rationale
Design of the NM Department
Description of Some Areas
Molecular Medicine
The Radiation Safety Program (RSP)
Radiation Safety Committee (RSC)
Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
Radioactive Materials License
Quality Management Program (QMP)
The ALARA Program
The Practice of Radiation Safety
Safe Handling of Radioactivity
Rationale
Minimizing External Exposures
Preventing Internal Contamination
Laboratory Rules
Radiation Hazards
Radionuclide Therapy
Other Radionuclide Therapies
Radiation Surveys and Waste Disposal
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Radiation Surveys
Survey Instruments
Monitoring
Accidental Contamination
Radioactive Wastes
Disposal of Radioactive Wastes
Occupational Exposures
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Monitoring of Personnel Exposures
Rationale
Monitoring of Occupational Exposures
Reminder of Dose Limits
Monitoring Methods
Records of Personnel Dosimetry
Reports
Reportable Events
Internal Dosimetry and Bioassays
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Historical Review
Internal Doses from Radiopharmaceuticals
Bioassay of Radioactivity
Biological Half-Times
Introduction to Radiobiology
Rationale
Review of Basic Concepts
The Study of Radiobiology
Types of Exposure
Theories of Radiation Injury
DNA: The Most Sensitive Target
Quantitative Radiobiology
Survival Curves
Tissue Sensitivities
Types of Damage
Radiation Injury Modifiers
Acute Radiation Syndrome (ARS)
Late Effects of Radiation
Genetic Effects
Effects of Prenatal Irradiation
Appendix A — Properties of Medical Radionuclides
Negatron Emitters
Gamma (X-Rays) Emitters
Positron Emitters (Annihilation Radiation)
Appendix B — Symbols and Abbreviations
Appendix C — Interconversion of Units
Appendix D — Answers to Problems
Index
Biography
Max H. Lombardi, Lynda Sutton, Allen Cato III
“...very readable format ... numerous tables, figures, and sample problems. Each chapter concludes with problems for the student to solve. ...offers extensive coverage of the subject. ...The chapters on radiatiosn physics, units of radiation exposure and dose, and radiobiology are thorough and well written.’
— Jeffry A. Siegel, writing in International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 2007, 69(4)
“Although the target audience consists of nuclear medicine technologist students, the basic physics and radiobiology make this book a good secondary review for nuclear cardiologists and radiologists preparing for their boards. ... easy to follow. Well done tables and Diagrams ... . Radiobiology and internal dosimetry are presented well and the coverage of radiation physics adequately meets the training levelfor nuclear medicine technologists.”
Weighted Numerical Score: 95 - 4 Stars!
— Doody’s Notes, June 2008