Department of Veterans Affairs
VA Handbook 7610 (252)
Washington, DC 20420
June , 2006
H. Nuclear Imaging: Method of producing images using gamma or scintillation cameras
that detect radiation from different parts of a patient's body after administration of a
radioactive tracer material. Since physiologic / pathophysiologic processes are being
monitored / measured, the patient must remain under the gamma camera for periods
of time that vary from 20 to 90 minutes and may return for delayed images later in
the same day or several days later. A clearance of 6'-6" (2 M) must be maintained
between staff and patient after patient positioning in the NM Scanning Room.
Modalities include planar and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
(SPECT) imaging, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), fusion imaging and
coincidence detection imaging.
I.
Nuclear Medicine: A specialized area of radiology that uses very small amounts of
radioactive substances to examine organ function and structure. It utilizes the
nuclear properties of radioactive and stable nuclides to perform diagnostic
evaluations and to provide therapy. Radioactive isotopes are administered either
orally, by inhalation, intravenously or in selected instances by direct injection to
obtain diagnostic evaluation(s) of anatomic and/or physiologic or pathophysiologic
conditions. These evaluations require a wide range of services, encompassing
patient consultation and examination, interpretation of images, correlation with other
diagnostic methods, determination of metabolic functions, drug levels and body
constituents, imaging / computerization and recommendations of the significance of
the findings. Nuclear Medicine is composed of several functional units, such as
Nuclear Clinical Imaging and Radiobioassay, known as "bench work" or, formerly,
Radioimmunoassay.
J.
Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS): The digital capture, transfer
and storage of diagnostic images. A PACS system consists of workstations for
interpretation, image/data producing modalities, a web server for distribution, printers
for file records, image servers for information transfer and holding, and an archive of
off-line information. A computer network is needed to support each of these devices.
K.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET): A Positron emission tomography, also called
PET imaging or a PET scan, is a diagnostic examination that involves the acquisition
of physiologic images based on the detection of radiation from the emission of
positrons. Positrons are tiny particles emitted from a radioactive substance
administered to the patient. The subsequent images of the human body developed
with this technique are used to evaluate a variety of diseases.
L.
PET/CT (Combined) Imaging: In one scan, a PET/CT scanner combines two state of
the art imaging modalities and merges PET and CT images together. By monitoring
the body's metabolism, PET provides information of cell activity whether a growth
within the body is cancerous or not. CT simultaneously provides detailed anatomic
information about the location, size, and shape of various lesions and tissue.
M. Procedure / Suite Stop: A procedure / suite stop is one encounter of a patient with a
healthcare provider. Per these criteria, the procedure / suite stop is the workload unit
Nuclear Medicine Service (Chapter 252): Page 3 of 18