Clinical Nuclear Imaging Physics: Current and Emerging Practice
The evolution of new evaluation methodologies in the field of clinical nuclear medicine physics has recently become relatively stagnant, despite the availability of several new commercial offerings of nuclear imaging technologies and features in clinical practice. This chapter provides ideas for advancing the practice of medical physics in nuclear medicine through updated methodologies of equipment evaluation, dose monitoring, and process improvements. The end goal is to move the practice of nuclear medicine physics toward more relevant objectives that demonstrate the value provided by diagnostic medical physicists to the clinical operation. As new technologies continue to enter into the clinical setting, it presents a challenge to the medical physicist of how to properly evaluate a new feature or new imaging technique. Current single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) /computed tomography (CT) units typically employ either a fully diagnostic or a low-output CT component for providing anatomical information and attenuation correction for the SPECT emission data.
