Practical Mathematics in Nuc. Med. Technology - 2nd Edition

Chapter I: Basic Math Skills for Nuclear Medicine Technology

1. Significant figures and rounding of numbers
2. Significant figures and mathematical operations
3. Powers and exponents
4. Roots
5. Scientific notation
6. Mathematical operations using exponentials numbers
7. Direct and inverse proportions
8. Converting within the metric system
9. Converting between Curie and Becquerel
10. Converting between rad and gray
11. Converting between rem and sievert
12. Converting between pound and kilogram
13. Logs, natural logs, and antilogs
14. Solving equations with an unknown in the exponent
15. Graphing on linear and semi-log papers

Chapter II: Statistics

1. Percent error or percent difference
2. Counting rate determinations
3. Effects of background on counts and counting rates
4. Mean, median, and mode
5. Standard deviation of a series of values
6. Confidence intervals and the standard deviation of a single value
7. Percent error or coefficient of variation for a series of values
8. Error inherent in a single value
9. Determination of counts required for statistical significance
10. Standard deviation of a counting rate
11. Propagation of errors

Chapter III: Radiation Protection

1. Conversion of counts per minute to disintegrations per minute using well counter efficiency
2. Exposure rate constants
3. Radiation dose versus time
4. Radiation dose versus distance from source
5. Radiation dose versus shielding
6. Effective half-life calculations from biological and physical half-lives

Chapter IV: Instrumentation

1. Calculation of acceptable ranges for dose calibrator accuracy and constancy
2. Percent error for dose calibrator accuracy and constancy
3. Dose calibrator geometry and percent error for syringes
4. Dose calibrator geometry and percent error for vials
5. Dose calibrator linearity of response and percent error
6. Calculation and use of correction factors for dose calibrator geometry and linearity
7. Energy resolution (full width at half-maximum)
8. Well counter or uptake probe constancy )precision) using chi-square
9. Well counter efficiency
10. Window calculations: Centerline plus percent window
11. Window calculations: Upper and lower level discriminators
12. Camera sensitivity
13. Acquisition time and counts per projection for SPECT studies
14. Obtaining desired flood or phantom fill activities
15. Total pixels by matrix size
16. Computer memory requirements based on matrix size and storage mode
17. Pixel calibration

Chapter V: Radiopharmacy

1. Decay calculation using half-life
2. Decay calculation using decay charts
3. Pre-calibration calculations
4. Specific concentration
5. Dose volume calculations
6. Calculation of total activity needed to provide specific number of kits or doses
7. Total volume to be added to kit considering volume and activity limits
8. Dose calculation based on activity per unit weight
9. Unit dose adjustments
10. Pediatric dose calculations using Clark’s formula
11. Pediatric dose calculations using body surface area
12. Pediatric dose calculations using Talbot’s nomogram
13. Minimum and maximum pediatric doses
14. Lung perfusion radiopharmaceutical particle calculations
15. Generator yield based on efficiency
16. Mo99/Tc99m generator yield based on decay
17. Allowable Mo99 content in generator eluate
18. Eluate expiration time based on Mo99 content
19. Chromatography calculations

Chapter VI: Clinical Procedures

1. Left ventricle ejection fraction
2. Cardiac output and stroke volume
3. Gallbladder ejection fraction
4. Gastroesophageal reflux
5. Gastric emptying half time
6. Calculation of expected bladder capacity for voiding cystogram
7. Quantitation of total bladder volume, residual bladder volume and reflux with a voiding cystogram
8. Lung quantitation
9. Thyroid uptake with and without decayed standard
10. Calculation of concentration of a solution
11. Preparing standards from bulk solution (dilutions)
12. Plasma volume
13. Red cell mass
14. Whole blood volume with dual nuclide method

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