Nuclear Medicine Imaging: Principles, Applications, and Exam Preparation

Question 1

Which component of a gamma camera detects gamma rays?

Accepted Answer

Scintillation crystal

Answer

Photomultiplier tube

Answer

Geiger-Mueller tube

Answer

Ionization chamber

Question 2

What is a unique advantage of nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

It provides functional information about biological processes.

Answer

It offers high-resolution images.

Answer

It is a non-invasive technique.

Answer

It uses radioisotopes with long half-lives.

Question 3

Which application of nuclear medicine imaging helps in diagnosing heart problems?

Accepted Answer

Myocardial perfusion imaging

Answer

Bone scans

Answer

Lung ventilation studies

Answer

Brain scans

Question 4

Compared to X-ray imaging, the radiation dose associated with nuclear medicine imaging procedures is typically:

Accepted Answer

Lower

Answer

Higher

Answer

Comparable

Answer

Negligible

Question 5

Which of the following accurately describes a key principle of nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Utilizing radioisotopes that emit gamma rays

Answer

Employing X-rays to depict the body's internal structures

Answer

Using ultrasound to generate images of the body

Answer

Administering radioactive iodine (I-131) to treat thyroid cancer

Question 6

In gamma cameras, which type of detector plays a crucial role in the imaging process?

Accepted Answer

Scintillation detectors

Answer

Photomultiplier tubes

Answer

Charge-coupled devices (CCDs)

Answer

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs)

Question 7

Compared to other imaging modalities like X-rays or CT scans, what distinctive advantage does nuclear medicine imaging offer?

Accepted Answer

Provides functional information about organs and tissues

Answer

Is non-invasive and involves minimal radiation exposure

Answer

Can be used to image a wide range of body parts

Answer

Is more cost-effective than other imaging modalities

Question 8

For bone scans, which radioisotope is commonly employed?

Accepted Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Iodine-131

Answer

Gallium-67

Answer

Carbon-11

Question 9

In the field of cardiology, which application utilizes nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Myocardial perfusion imaging

Answer

Bone marrow scans

Answer

Thyroid scans

Answer

Liver scans

Question 10

Within the nuclear medicine team, what is the primary responsibility of the radiopharmacist?

Accepted Answer

Preparing and dispensing radioisotopes

Answer

Operating gamma cameras

Answer

Interpreting nuclear medicine images

Answer

Performing patient examinations

Question 11

In nuclear medicine, what is the main purpose of a cyclotron?

Accepted Answer

Accelerating ions to trigger nuclear reactions

Answer

Detecting and measuring radiation from radionuclides

Answer

Separating isotopes of an element

Question 12

How do collimator design and energy resolution contribute to image quality in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Collimator design improves spatial resolution by reducing scattered photons, while energy resolution improves contrast by distinguishing photons of different energies.

Answer

Collimator design improves contrast by reducing scattered photons, while energy resolution enhances spatial resolution by distinguishing photons of different energies.

Answer

Both collimator design and energy resolution enhance spatial resolution.

Answer

Both collimator design and energy resolution enhance contrast.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a type of radioisotope commonly used in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Sodium-24

Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Iodine-131

Answer

Fluorine-18

Question 14

What is the primary mechanism of gamma camera detection in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Detection of gamma rays emitted by the radioisotope

Answer

Detection of X-rays emitted by the radioisotope

Answer

Ionization of the gas inside the camera

Answer

Fluorescence of the scintillator crystal

Question 15

Which of the following factors does NOT significantly affect the image quality in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Ambient temperature

Answer

Patient motion

Answer

Radioisotope dosage

Answer

Camera sensitivity

Question 16

Which of the following organizations is responsible for regulating the use of nuclear medicine in the United Kingdom?

Accepted Answer

Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Answer

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Answer

Royal College of Physicians

Answer

Nuclear Medicine Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Question 17

What ethical concern arises from using radioisotopes in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Patient exposure to radiation

Answer

Procedure cost

Answer

Technology availability

Question 18

What is a key advantage of nuclear medicine imaging over other imaging techniques?

Accepted Answer

Provides functional information about organs and tissues

Answer

Lower cost than other imaging techniques

Answer

No exposure to ionizing radiation

Answer

Whole-body imaging capabilities

Question 19

Which of the following statements about nuclear medicine imaging is correct?

Accepted Answer

It provides functional information about the body.

Answer

It provides high spatial resolution.

Answer

It involves a high radiation dose to the patient.

Question 20

Primary Function of a Gamma Camera in Nuclear Medicine:

The primary function of a gamma camera in nuclear medicine imaging is:

Accepted Answer

To detect and localize gamma rays emitted by radioisotopes

Answer

To guide medical procedures during surgery

Answer

To process and display nuclear medicine images

Answer

To produce radioisotopes

Question 21

Advantages of Using Radioisotopes in Nuclear Medicine:

Compared to other imaging agents, radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine offer the advantage of:

Accepted Answer

They can be specifically targeted to particular tissues or organs of interest

Answer

They are more affordable and readily available

Answer

They produce higher-resolution images

Question 22

Distinction Between SPECT and PET Imaging:

The primary difference between SPECT and PET imaging lies in the type of radioisotope used, specifically:

Accepted Answer

SPECT uses a single photon-emitting radioisotope, while PET uses a positron-emitting radioisotope

Answer

SPECT provides higher-resolution images compared to PET

Answer

PET is a more expensive and complex imaging technique than SPECT

Question 23

Ethical Considerations in Nuclear Medicine Imaging:

In the practice of nuclear medicine imaging, essential ethical considerations include:

Accepted Answer

Radiation safety, patient privacy, and informed consent

Answer

Availability and accessibility of imaging equipment

Answer

Cost-effectiveness and resource allocation

Question 24

Which of the following is a characteristic of gamma rays?

Accepted Answer

They are high-energy electromagnetic radiation.

Answer

They can be deflected by a magnetic field.

Answer

They have low energy.

Answer

They are particles.

Question 25

Which isotope is commonly used in bone scans?

Accepted Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Gallium-67

Answer

Iodine-131

Answer

Thallium-201

Question 26

Which technique is used to improve the spatial resolution of gamma camera images?

Accepted Answer

Collimation

Answer

Attenuation correction

Answer

Image reconstruction

Answer

Scatter correction

Question 27

Which of the following is an advantage of SPECT over planar imaging?

Accepted Answer

Improved depth resolution

Answer

Faster acquisition time

Answer

Higher sensitivity

Question 28

What is the primary purpose of quality control in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

To ensure accurate and reliable images

Answer

To optimize the imaging process

Answer

To reduce patient radiation dose

Answer

To improve patient comfort

Question 29

What is the function of the collimator in a gamma camera?

Accepted Answer

To collimate (focus) the incoming gamma rays

Answer

To convert gamma rays into visible light

Answer

To shield the detector from scattered radiation

Answer

To amplify the signal from the detector

Question 30

Which of the following is NOT a type of radioisotope commonly employed in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Uranium-238

Answer

Iodine-131

Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Gallium-67

Question 31

In gamma camera imaging, which primary detector component is responsible for converting gamma rays into visible light?

Accepted Answer

Sodium iodide scintillator

Answer

Germanium semiconductor

Answer

Ionization chamber

Answer

Photomultiplier tube

Question 32

Which of the following is a key advantage of nuclear medicine imaging compared to other medical imaging techniques?

Accepted Answer

Ability to provide functional information about biological processes

Answer

Lower radiation dose

Answer

Faster image acquisition time

Answer

Higher spatial resolution

Question 33

In gamma camera imaging, what is the term for the process that converts gamma rays into visible light?

Accepted Answer

Scintillation

Answer

Digitization

Answer

Collimation

Answer

Amplification

Question 34

In nuclear medicine imaging, what is the term for the substance containing a radioisotope that is administered to the patient?

Accepted Answer

Radiopharmaceutical

Answer

Contrast agent

Answer

Radioisotope

Answer

Scintillator

Question 35

Which of the following is a common application of nuclear medicine imaging in the field of oncology?

Accepted Answer

Tumor detection and staging

Answer

Myocardial perfusion imaging

Answer

Bone density measurement

Answer

Brain function mapping

Question 36

In a gamma camera, what is the primary physical interaction that occurs between gamma rays and the sodium iodide scintillator?

Accepted Answer

Photoelectric effect

Answer

Compton scattering

Answer

Pair production

Answer

Bremsstrahlung

Question 37

Which radioisotope is most commonly used in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Iodine-131

Answer

Carbon-14

Question 38

What is the primary function of a gamma camera?

Accepted Answer

Detecting and localizing gamma rays emitted from radioisotopes within the body.

Answer

Administering radioisotopes to patients.

Answer

Producing radioisotopes for medical use.

Question 39

Which radioisotope is most commonly used in bone scans?

Accepted Answer

Technetium-99m

Answer

Thallium-201

Answer

Fluorine-18

Answer

Iodine-131

Question 40

What imaging technique is used in a PET scan?

Accepted Answer

Positron Emission Tomography

Answer

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Answer

Computed Tomography

Answer

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Question 41

Which nuclear medicine procedure is used to diagnose thyroid cancer?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid scan

Answer

Heart scan

Answer

Bone scan

Answer

Lung scan

Question 42

What is an advantage of using radioisotopes with short half-lives in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Reduced radiation exposure to the patient.

Answer

Lower cost of production.

Answer

Increased image resolution.

Answer

Longer imaging time possible.

Question 43

What is the purpose of attenuation correction in nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

To account for the absorption of gamma rays by tissues.

Answer

To reduce the radiation dose to the patient.

Answer

To improve image resolution.

Question 44

What is a potential risk associated with nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

Radiation exposure

Answer

Pain during the procedure.

Answer

MRI incompatibility.

Answer

Allergic reaction to the radioisotope.

Question 45

What is a key advantage of SPECT over planar nuclear medicine imaging?

Accepted Answer

SPECT provides three-dimensional images, allowing for better localization of abnormalities.

Answer

SPECT requires a lower radiation dose.

Answer

SPECT is faster than planar imaging.