Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of quality and patient safety in nuclear medicine/molecular imaging beginning with the basic physical principles underlying key imaging modalities such as gamma cameras, SPECT, and PET. It emphasizes the importance of quality control (QC) in ensuring accurate and safe imaging, detailing specific QC procedures for gamma cameras, SPECT, and PET as well as dose calibrators, thyroid uptake systems, and well counters. Special attention is given to the unique considerations for imaging pregnant patients and the protocols for releasing patients after radiopharmaceutical administration. The chapter also discusses ongoing regulatory efforts and industry advancements aimed at reducing radiation exposure while maintaining diagnostic accuracy, including innovations like integrated (hybrid) imaging systems (SPECT/CT, PET/CT, PET/MRI) and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven dose management.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Quality and Patient Safety in Medical Imaging |
| Subtitle of host publication | A Modality-Based Approach |
| Pages | 149-167 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783031890079 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Keywords
- Dose calibrators
- Gamma cameras
- Molecular imaging (MI)
- Nuclear medicine (NM)
- Patient safety
- PET
- Quality
- Quality control (QC)
- SPECT
- Thyroid uptake systems
- Well counters
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine