Department of radiology and radiation medicine

Topic: Types of the radiological units. Equipment &

structure of the radiodiagnostic laboratory. Rules of
working with radioactive substances. Types of
radiopharmaceuticals. Basic principles of radionuclide
diagnostics.

Lecturer: associate professor of department of radiology

and radiation medicine, MD, Ph.D.
Mytsyk Y.O.

Contact: +38 (032) 276-78-06

Contents of presentation
• Slide №3 – Introduction into nuclear imaging
• Slide №4 – Properties of alpha, beta & gamma
radiation
• Slide №5 – Activity of the RPL
• Slide №6 - Diagnostics in vitro: radioimmunoassay
• Slide №7 - Radioisotopic or radionuclide CT (SPECT)
 Slide №3 – Introduction into nuclear imaging
Medical radiology- science which uses ionizing radiation for diagnostic & treatment of human diseases
(also called nuclear medicine)
History:
•1878-Mary Sklodovska-Curie discovered radioactive 84 Polonium 210
•1896- Anri Bekkerel discovered radioactive 88 Radium 206
•Iren & Phrederic Curie studied artificial radiation
•1940 th - isotopes were first used as radiolabels for chemical substances by Hevishi (apprentice of the Nils
Borr). Hevishi based his experiments on the Bor’s theory about atomic structure, which said that nuclei
(core) doesn’t divide in stable state
•1956- Geneva- at first radioactive scanning was used
•1970th- usage of scintigraphy, gamma-cameras were discovered
Definitions:
Isotopes- are chemical element which differs by mass numbers but have the same charge of the unstable
atomic nucleus.
Radionuclides- radioactive atom of the chemical element which decays with emitting particle radiation or
EM-radiation
Radioactivity- 1. property to voluntary emit radiation.
2. the phenomenon of voluntary transformation of the atomic nuclei of one element into another with
emitting of the energy as ionizing radiation.
 Slide №4 – Properties of alpha, beta & gamma
radiation
Type a.k.a. (also known as) mass Electric charge Velocity
α – rays 2 protons + 2 neutrons relatively heavy double positive relatively slow
β-rays electron -8,000 times lighter single negative < 3 x 108 m/s

γ-rays high energy EM (photons) radiation none none 3 x 108 m/s

emanating from within the atomic
nucleus

X-rays high energy EM (photons ) radiation none none 3 x 108 m/s

emanating from e.g. the electron
cloud surrounding the atomic
nucleus

Radiation Typical Applications

X-Rays Radiography. Fluoroscopy . Digital Subtraction Angiography .Computed
Radiography
Computerized Axial Tomography .Mammography. Radiation Therapy
Gamma-Rays Nuclear Medicine. SPECT. Positron Emission Tomography. Radiation Therapy
 Slide №5 – Activity of the RPL
“-“ Alpha-rays has small race (run)
“-“Beta-rays has high scattering ability (so we have to locate their spring cloth to the organ)
•that’s why we do not use them in medicine
“+“- Gamma rays are much similar to X-rays, they have a great penetrating ability (permeability) which we use in nuclear
medicine
α -decay: zXA →z-2YA-4+2He4 ; (E.g : 88Ra226 →86Ra222+2He4 (α –particles are nuclei of Helium, charge-2 electrons)
β –decay: zXA →z+1YA+-1e0 ; (E.g : 90Th234 →91Ra234+-1e0
where Z-charge, A-protons, mass
T1/2 physical- half-decay or half-life period [sec] –time per which we have decay of one half atoms of any quantity of the
chemical element.
T1/2 biological- time per which radioactivity of RPL decreases on ½
T1/2 effective- time per which activity of one half of the RPL decreases on ½ due to both processes.
E.g. T1/2 of 84 Po210 is 140 days: it means that after 140 days if primary we had 1 gram of Polonium only 0.5 gr would be
left
Activity of the RPL- is the quantity of decays per unit of time [CI- 1Bekkerel= activity of RPL in case of which 1 decay
occur in one sec]
Expositional dose De - ratio between created by radiation sum of ions charge of one sign (+/-)in the air & mass of this
particular air [CI-Cl/kg, [Roentgen]], 1Cl/kg=3878 R.
Absorption dose Da- ratio between energy, transmitted by ionizing radiation to the matter & the mass of this matter [CI-
Grey=1dgoul/kg, 1 Gr=100Rad; Dn=E/m or D=Do x k, where k – coefficient of the absorption: k for air equals = 0.87; k for
biol. tissues=0,93
-Dosimetry: Geiger counter, pocket dosimeters, they give sound or light effect.
Slide №6 - Diagnostics in vitro: radioimmunoassay
I. Diagnostics in vitro: RIA=radioimmunoassay- is used for evaluation of the concentrations of the biologically active
substances (hormones, derivates – adrenaline, dophamin, serotonin, narcotic drugs, cyclosporins, immunological,
oncomarkers) in plasma, blood, urine, other biological substances. RIA uses the competitive reaction between
radiolabeled & not-labeled substance (Antigen) which binds with specific perceptive system (Antybody)
Equipment: gamma-camera (scintilating screen)
“+”Advantages of the RIA:
1. gives opportunity to evaluate biochemical processes changes in physiological conditions
2. minimal hazard – no radiation exposure, not connected with injection of radioactive substances into the human body
3. simplicity
4.atraumatic
5. high clinical self-descriptiveness [informity]
6. objective results
7. doesn’t require special patients preparation
8. processing of the data – by technical means (automatisation process)
9. high sensitivity which allows to measure subminimal concentrations of the substance
10. high specificity which is conditioned by principles of the immunological reactions
11. accuracy about 80%
12. possibility to transportate on the long distances without loss of substance
13. long storage of the biological specimen (6-12 months in t0 conditions)
“-”Disdvantages of the RIA:
1. hazard of the radiation exposure of the personnel (nurses)
2. necessity of the dividing system
3. no information about the bioactivity of the substance
Slide №7 - Radioisotopic or radionuclide CT (SPECT)
Radioisotopic or radionuclide CT (SPECT) - gives opportunity to obtain layered polipositional image, to evaluate the
function of the organ in dynamics, in 3-dimensional space.
Equipment for radionucline studies:
1. perceptive detector
2. photoelectric amplifier (which amplifies scintilations)
3. electric block- block of the registration
General scheme of the evaluating of the scannogram:
1. Location (typical, atypical)
2. Shape- regular, irregular
3. Outlines – distinct, indistict
Accumulation of RPLs: red - should be located centrally & uniformly
Cold nodules
Hot nodules
Reasons for Performing Nuclear Medicine Studies:
With the administration of a radiopharmaceutical and subsequent detection of the photons emitted from a particular organ,
anatomic and functional abnormalities of various body areas can be detected. Nuclear medicine studies do not identify the
specific cause (disease) of the abnormality. They provide supportive information to be used in conjunction with other
diagnostic modalities. There are many indications for nuclear scanning, some of which are listed below:
1. To stage cancer by detecting metastasis to the bone (bone scan), liver (liver scan), or brain (brain scan)
2. To diagnose acute and chronic cholecystitis (gallbladder scan)
3. To detect cerebral pathologic conditions (brain scan)
4. To evaluate gastric emptying (gastric emptying scan)
5. To localize sites of gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding scan)
6. To diagnose pulmonary embolism (lung scan)
7. To determine perfusion, structure, and function of the kidneys (renal scan) or heart (cardiac scan)
8. To evaluate thyroid nodules (thyroid scan)
9. To evaluate testicular swelling and pain (scrotal scan)
Thank you for the attention!

Contact: +38 (032) 276-78-06