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NUCLEAR MEDICINE

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2016/2017
Year: 
3
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2018/2019
Credits: 
5
Period: 
First Semester
Standard lectures hours: 
60
Requirements: 

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Knowledge about ionizing radiation physics, mechanics and electronics of the machines must be acquired before starting the course. Useful are a good knowledge of the basis of the main radiologica techniques and of the English language.
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Essential physics of medical imaging is required; basic radiological techniques have to be considered

Final Examination: 
Orale

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Oral exams. The student must be able to explain at least two NM techniques, comprehensive of general i clinical indications and the comparison with similar tools.
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Oral exam verification.
The students must be able to clearly explain all mainly nuclear medicine techniques.
Technical Advantages and potential drawbacks will be taken into account.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Students must learn basic knowledge about physiopathology, radiopharmacy, ionizing radiation revelation, radiation protection, tecnical and clinical premises of Nuclear Medicine. In details
1. Ionizing radiation: alfa, beta e gamma, their use in diagnstic imaging and therapy according to their physical properties. What is a radiopharmaceutical. Indications for diagnostic and therapy in Nuclear Medicine. Basic knowledge about radiation protection of patients, parents and workers in Nuclear Medicine.
2. Properties of collimators. Acquisition features: static, dynamic, planar, wholebody, SPET. Matrices and electronic zoom. The gating
3. Post-processing: Time activity curves, semiquantitative and quantitative analysis. Attenuation correction, tomographic reconstruction (FBP and iteractive), oblique reformat, hybrid imaging SPET/CT e PET/CT.
At the end the student must be able to perform a NM exam, from the position of the patient to the final post processing, together with the management of arising problems either by himself or in cooperation with coworkers.
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Students have to be knowledged about mainly nuclear medicine equipments and techniques in order to be “smart” in all current Hi-tech device managing.

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
1. Thyroid: anatomy, physiology, pathology. Thyroid scam with 99mTc, 131I, uptake test, their technique and clinical use. Main features of thyroid scan findings.
2. Parathyroid scan. Clinical use and findings, technique: double tracer Pertecnetate/SestaMIBI, washout analysis and image subtraction.
3. The skeleton: Bone scan, classical and three-phase. Findings and pictures in primary and secondary bone tumors and in benign bone diseases.
4. Infection and inflammation: autologous white blood cells scan, Gallium scan, radiolabelled anti-granulocyte antiobodies.
5. The lungs, anatomy and phisiopathology. Radiopharmaceuticals for perfusion and ventilation lung scan. Pulmonary embolism.
6. The digestive tract. The salivary glands scan and the studies of the upper tract about swallowing, motility and reflux.
7. The kidney. Anatomy and function. Static and dynamic renal scans. Renal radiopharmaceuticals and drug tests. Evaluation of absolute renal function. Studies for vesicoureteric reflux.
8. The heart. Ischaemic and dilatative cardiopathy. The stress test, exercise and pharmacological stress. Myocradial perfusion imaging, equilibrium and first pass angiocardioscintigraphy.Polar maps and G-SPET technique. Myocardial viability assessment.
9. CNS studies. Perfusion and dopamine receptor radiopharmaceuticals. Oncological tracers.
10. Oncological Nuclear Medicine: peptide scintigraphy, the sentinel node detection and the lymphoscintigraphy. Radioguided surgery.
11. PET/TC and positron-emitter radiopharmaceuticals. Coincidence detection, technique. Clinical use in oncology.
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
- Essentials in digital imaging
- Acquiring and processing strategies in Nuclear medicine: static, dynamic, wholebody and gated acquisitions; SPECT, PET, hybrid imaging modalities.
- Post-Processing tools: Image corrections, Fourier analysis (digital filters, temporal filters, gating processing)
- Image reconstruction tools (Filterback projection and iterative algorithms).
- Image segmentation and registration procedures.
- Image Measuring techniques (activity-time curves, fourier analisys, statistical methods)
- Image artfact in nuclear medicine: how to prevent it.
- Dose reduction strategies and mid-term technology developments.

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Main textbook is: Volterrani, Erba, Mariani: Fondamenti di Medicina Nucleare. Springer Verlag Italia 2010
useful:
Taylor, Schuster, Alazraki, trad. Lucignani, Del Sole, Pupi: Manuale di Medicina Nucleare, Minerva Medica 2003
Dondi, Giubbini: Medicina Nucleare, Patron ed
Lessons slides are mandatory
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Teacher notes will be available at the end of the course.

Books:
Volterrani, Erba, Mariani: Fondamenti di Medicina Nucleare. Springer Verlag Italia 2010
Marengo La fisica in medicina nucleare Pàtron Editore 2002

Further informations
European Association of Nuclear medicine (EANM) Publications (http://www.eanm.org)
Italian Association of Nuclear medicine (AIMN) Publications (http://www.aimn.it)

DIAGNOSTICA PER IMMAGINI IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Frontal lessons
TECNICHE DIAGNOSTICHE IN MEDICINA NUCLEARE
Classroom lecture: both theoretical and practical topics are taken into account (video demonstrations and simulating tests will be considered).

Lessons are completed by Departmental practice

Modules