• Society of Nuclear Medicine. Procedure guideline for general imaging. Version 3.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 2004 May 30. 10 p.

This is the current release of the guideline.

This guideline updates a previous version: Society of Nuclear Medicine. Procedure guideline for general imaging, 2.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 1999 Feb. 36 p. (Society of Nuclear Medicine procedure guidelines; no. 2.0).

Background Information and Definitions

The strength of nuclear medicine lies in its ability to image and quantify regional physiologic biochemical processes. This information may complement anatomic information provided by other modalities.

1. Single Photon Scintillation Cameras

   Single-photon scintillation cameras provide static, dynamic, or gated images of the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals within the body. Single photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT, also known as SPET) images may be obtained by reconstruction of a number of planar images taken at different angles. Computed tomography (CT) scanners have been combined with some single-photon cameras that have SPECT capability in order to provide attenuation correction capability as well as localizing information. Use of combined SPECT/CT scanners is likely to increase in the future.

2. Positron Cameras

   Positron cameras provide static, dynamic, or gated images of the distribution of positron-emitting radionuclides within the body by detecting pairs of photons produced in coincidence by the annihilation of a positron and an electron. Positron emission tomographic (PET) images are produced by reconstruction from the coincidence pair data. CT scanners have been combined with some positron cameras to provide attenuation correction capability as well as localizing information. Use of combined PET/CT scanners is rapidly increasing.

3. Nuclear Medicine Computer Systems

   Nuclear medicine computer systems collect, quantitate, analyze, and display the imaging information.

Procedure

The detailed procedure recommendations in the guideline address the following areas: patient preparation; information pertinent to performing the procedure (i.e., important data that the physician should have about the patient at the time the exam is performed and interpreted); precautions; and quality control.

None provided

The type of evidence supporting the recommendations is not specifically stated.

• Society of Nuclear Medicine. Procedure guideline for general imaging. Version 3.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 2004 May 30. 10 p.

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

1999 Feb (revised 2004 May 30)

Society of Nuclear Medicine, Inc - Medical Specialty Society

Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)

Task Force

Authors: J. Anthony Parker, MD, PhD (Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA); Margaret E. Daube-Witherspoon, PhD (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA); L. Stephen Graham, PhD, FACR (West Los Angeles VA Medical Center/UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA); Henry D. Royal, MD (Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, St. Louis, MO); Andrew E. Todd-Pokropek, PhD (University College of London, United Kingdom); Michael V. Yester, PhD (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL)

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline.

This guideline updates a previous version: Society of Nuclear Medicine. Procedure guideline for general imaging, 2.0. Reston (VA): Society of Nuclear Medicine; 1999 Feb. 36 p. (Society of Nuclear Medicine procedure guidelines; no. 2.0).

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on July 20, 1999. It was verified by the guideline developer as of August 5, 1999.This summary was updated on May 18, 2005. The updated information was verified by the guideline developer on June 30, 2005.

This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions.