39372 - Nuclear Medicine Equipment

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques (cod. 8485)

Learning outcomes

1. Principles of operation of the gamma camera collimator characteristics.
2. Basics of quality assurance of gamma cameras.
3. The principles of psotron emission tomography and PET detector technology.
4. The basics of multi-modal PET-CT technology.
5. The main aspects of patient protection in nuclear medicine.
6. Some basic concepts on the production of radionuclides and cyclotron technology.

Course contents

  1. Scintillation detectors; photomultiplier. Gamma ray spectra: full energy peak and Compton distribution. Energy resolution.

  2. Basic notions on nuclear electronics. Pre-amplifier and pulse shaping. Pulse discrimination and analysis. Dead time.

  3. The gamma camera. Detector characterises and dimensions. Positioning circuit.

  4. Collimator: physical and technological characterises.

  5. Refreshing on digital images, with particular regard to Nuclear Medicine.

  6. Acquisition protocols: static, dynamic, gated and whole body scan.

  7. Modern gamma cameras types: 1, 2, 3 heads, fixed and variable geometry.

  8. Basic notions on Quality Assurance and equipment quality control in Nuclear Medicine.

  9. Principles of positron emission tomography. Detectors for PET.

  10. Bases of multi-modal PET-CT tomography.

  11. Radiation protection of the patient in Nuclear Medicine.

  12. Basic notions on radionuclide production. Fission and activation. Principles of the cyclotron.

Readings/Bibliography

Duccio Volterrani · Paola Anna Erba · Giuliano Mariani (a cura di): Fondamenti di medicina nucleare Tecniche e applicazioni - Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l.

ISBN 978-88-470-1684-2

The teacher will provide the slides which - integrated with notes taken following the lessons - can replace the text.

Teaching methods

  1. Lectures with presentation of slides (all the slides are available in English as well) and audiovisuals


Assessment methods

Oral examination, with exercises and/or multiple choice questionnaires

Teaching tools

  1. Lectures with presentation of slides all the slides are available in English as well)

  2. Exercises with simple calculation using a scientific calculator and/or spreadsheet

  3. Guided visits to Laboratories in the S.Orsola – Malpighi University Hospital

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Baldazzi