Handbook

The contents of this subject cover fundamental knowledge of nuclear medicine physics. It has been developed by medical physicists registered with the ACPSEM as Qualified Medical Physics Specialists in nuclear medicine with the aim to fulfil the requirements for Level 1 competency of the ACPSEM Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics training program (Nuclear Medicine module). The subject is structured into 2 parts: part I covers physics knowledge of the imaging acquisition processes and equipment, discuss image quality and image quality controls, discusses absolute quantification of nuclear medicine images and introduces tracer kinetics. Part II applies the concepts learnt in part I to clinical nuclear medicine investigations and therapies. It introduces some examples of the clinical indications and physiological processes investigated in nuclear medicine, focussing in particular on image acquisition and processing of dynamic images. Part II includes basic computer science knowledge necessary in nuclear medicine, dosimetry techniques for population and patient specific dosimetry of internal radionuclides and awareness of radiation protection (practical considerations and regulatory requirements) in nuclear medicine. The structure of the subject is as follows: Part I: 1. Review of physics concepts relevant to nuclear medicine 2. Principles of tracer kinetics 3. Gamma camera 4. Single Photon Emission Tomography 5. Positron Emission Tomography 6. Absolute Quantification in planar and tomographic images Part II: 7. Clinical nuclear medicine investigations 8. Computing in nuclear medicine 9. Dynamic imaging 10. Radiation dosimetry in nuclear medicine 11. Radiation protection in nuclear medicine