Physics, Instrumentation, and Radiation Protection.

The underlying principles of nuclear medicine imaging involve the use of unsealed sources of radioactivity which are administered in the form of radiopharmaceuticals; the ionizing radiations which accompany the decay of the administered radioactivity can be detected and measured with specially designed instruments (e.g., survey meters, gamma cameras). In order to appreciate the scientific and technical basis of nuclear medicine imaging, this chapter reviews atomic and nuclear structure, radioactivity and radioactive decay, and interactions of radiation with matter. This is followed by a discussion of techniques for detection and measurement of radiation, design and operating principles of detection and imaging instruments, instrument quality control, and radiation protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]