Chapter 14, Medical Applications of Nuclear Technology Video Solutions, Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Problem 1

Relate a personal experience with a diagnostic-radiology or nuclear-medicine procedure. Were risks and benefits of the procedure explained to you? Were you given information about radiation doses associated with the procedure? In reading this chapter, have you gained a better understanding of the procedure? What insights have been gained and what new questions have come to mind?

Dading Chen

Numerade Educator

01:08

Problem 2

Consider the two x-ray spectra depicted in Fig. 14.2 produced by the same x-ray machine. Explain why the spectra are shifted in energy.

Sam Limsuwannarot

Numerade Educator

Problem 3

Consider an x-ray examination of bone, approximated as a $2-\mathrm{cm}$ diameter cylinder. In the image, what is the bone's range of subject contrast for $100-\mathrm{keV} \mathrm{x}$ rays? Explain why the image contrast of the bone is less than the subject contrast. What can be done to improve the image contrast?

Check back soon!

03:20

Problem 4

Many source and detector configurations can be used in x-ray tomography. Explain how the machine design is influenced by (a) minimizing costs, (b) increasing image resolution, (c) minimizing patient exposure, (d) minimizing the exposure time, (e) and increasing image contrast.

Abhishek Jana

Numerade Educator

02:24

Problem 5

Why is ${ }^{99 m}$ Tc useful in diagnostic nuclear medicine but not therapeutic? Describe how decay characteristics such as half-life, atomic number, type of radiation, and energy of radiation affect the choice of a radionuclide for a particular nuclear-medicine procedure.

Sima Sarker

Numerade Educator

02:32

Problem 6

Explain why positron-emitting isotopes are not usually produced in nuclear reactors.

Arpit Gupta

Numerade Educator

00:56

Problem 7

To treat thyroid cancer ${ }^{131} \mathrm{I}$ is injected in the patient where it rapidly accumulates in the thyroid. ${ }^{131} \mathrm{I}$ with a half-life of 8.0 d emits beta particles with an average energy of $182 \mathrm{keV} /$ decay and gamma rays with an average energy of $382 \mathrm{keV} /$ decay. In addition, ${ }^{131} \mathrm{I}$ has a biological half-life in the thyroid of 4.1 d . (a) What is the effective half-life of ${ }^{131} I$ in the thyroid. (b) How many millicuries of this radioisotope should be injected to deliver a 250 Gy dose to the 20 -gram thyroid?

David Collins

Numerade Educator

01:22

Problem 8

Explain why SPECT must use a physical collimator, while PET has no need of such a collimator. Also explain what determines the image resolution in both procedures.

Matt Braby

Numerade Educator

01:11

Problem 9

Explain why nuclear wastes per unit activity is of less societal and physical concern for medical applications than those produced in muclear power plants.

Matthew Confer

Numerade Educator