2nd Edition

Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine

By Max H. Lombardi Copyright 2007
256 Pages 120 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

256 Pages
by CRC Press

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... Read more

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


Rationale
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


Rationale
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