Evaluation of the respiratory motion effect in small animal PET images with GATE Monte Carlo simulations

The rapid growth in genetics and molecular biology combined with the development of techniques for genetically engineering small animals has led to increased interest in in vivo small animal imaging. Small animal imaging has been applied frequently to the imaging of small animals (mice and rats), which are ubiquitous in modeling human diseases and testing treatments. The use of PET in small animals allows the use of subjects as their own control, reducing the interanimal variability. This allows performing longitudinal studies on the same animal and improves the accuracy of biological models. However, small animal PET still suffers from several limitations. The amounts of radiotracers needed, limited scanner sensitivity, image resolution and image quantification issues, all could clearly benefit from additional research. Because nuclear medicine imaging deals with radioactive decay, the emission of radiation energy through photons and particles alongside with the detection of these quanta and particles in different materials make Monte Carlo method an important simulation tool in both nuclear medicine research and clinical practice. In order to optimize the quantitative use of PET in clinical practice, data- and image-processing methods are also a field of intense interest and development. The evaluation of such methods often relies on the use of simulated data and images since these offer control of the ground truth. Monte Carlo simulations are widely used for PET simulation since they take into account all the random processes involved in PET imaging, from the emission of the positron to the detection of the photons by the detectors. Simulation techniques have become an importance and indispensable complement to a wide range of problems that could not be addressed by experimental or analytical approaches.

Research practice development for nuclear medicine technologists: an innovative experience

Introduction - European nuclear medicine technologist’s education is delivered by Higher Education Institutions and students obtain a grade of Bachelor of Sciences (BSc), during which they are initiated to research during their studies. Once BSc nuclear medicine technologists are in professional practice, they have very few opportunities to develop a real research experience and they rather become passive users than active contributors the growth of scientific knowledge in nuclear medicine. Aim - To describe and discuss an innovative educational and professional experience aimed in strengthen research knowledge, skills and competencies of former nuclear medicine technologists student in the context of an international mobility stay.

Nuclear medicine technologist education and training in Europe: literature and web-based findings

Purpose - The education and training of a nuclear medicine technologist (NMT) is not homogeneous among European countries, which leads to different scope of practices and, therefore, different technical skills are assigned. The goal of this research was to characterize the education and training of NMT in Europe. Materials and methods - This study was based on a literature research to characterize the education and training of NMT and support the historical evolution of this profession. It was divided into two different phases: the first phase included analysis of scientific articles and the second phase included research of curricula that allow health professionals to work as NMT in Europe. Results - The majority of the countries [N=31 (89%)] offer the NMT curriculum integrated into the high education system and only in four (11%) countries the education is provided by professional schools. The duration in each education system is not equal, varying in professional schools (2-3 years) and high education level system (2-4 years), which means that different European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, such as 240, 230, 222, 210 or 180 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, are attributed to the graduates. The professional title and scope of the practice of NMT are different in different countries in Europe. In most countries of Europe, nuclear medicine training is not specific and curriculum does not demonstrate the Nuclear Medicine competencies performed in clinical practice. Conclusion - The heterogeneity in education and training for NMT is an issue prevalent among European countries. For NMT professional development, there is a huge need to formalize and unify educational and training programmes in Europe.

Validation of a new reference values’s database for semiquantification of 123I‐FP‐CIT SPECT scans in one nuclear medicine department

The DatScanTM and its Semiquantification (SQ) can provide advantages in the diagnosis of Parkinsonian Syndromes (PS). To improve the SQ is recommended the creation of adapted database (DB) with reference values for the Nuclear Medicine Departments. Previously to this work was created a adapted database (DBRV) to Nuclear Medicine Department's protocol and population of Infanta Cristina's Hospital located in Badajoz, for patients between the ages of 60 and 75, and reference values of the SQ were calculated. Aim: To evaluate the discrimination capacity of a department's adapted DB reference's values of healthy controls for DatScanTM.

Clinical classification versus semiquantification with adapted reference values for 123I-FP-CIT SPECT in a nuclear medicine department

Semi quantification (SQ) in DaTScan® studies is broadly used in clinic daily basis, however there is a suspicious about its discriminative capability, and concordance with the diagnostic classification performed by the physician. Aim: Evaluate the discriminate capability of an adapted database and reference's values of healthy controls for the Dopamine Transporters (DAT) with 123I–FP-IT named DBRV adapted to Nuclear Medicine Department's protocol and population of Infanta Cristina's Hospital, and its concordance with the physician classification.