Most of the naturally occurring radionuclides are very long-lived (e.g., 40 K, T 1/2 ~ 10 9 years), represent very heavy elements (e.g., uranium and radium) that are unimportant in metabolic or physiologic processes, or both. Some of the first…
Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process; that is, there is no way to predict with certainty the exact moment at which an unstable nucleus will undergo its radioactive transformation into another, more stable nucleus. Mathematically, radioactive decay is described in…
Radioactive decay is a process in which an unstable nucleus transforms into a more stable one by emitting particles, photons, or both, releasing energy in the process. Atomic electrons may become involved in some types of radioactive decay, but it…
Radioactivity is a process involving events in individual atoms and nuclei. Before discussing radioactivity, therefore, it is worthwhile to review some of the basic concepts of atomic and nuclear physics. a Quantities and Units 1 Types of Quantities and Units…
a Fundamental Concepts The science and clinical practice of nuclear medicine involve the administration of trace amounts of compounds labeled with radioactivity (radionuclides) that are used to provide diagnostic information in a wide range of disease states. Although radionuclides also…
The “head and neck” encompasses extracranial structures from the skull base to the thoracic inlet including the orbits, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses (PNSs), face, jaws, temporal bones and soft tissues of the neck, oral cavity, and upper aerodigestive tract. In…
The spinal cord is an integral part of the neural axis or central nervous system. Disease entities in the brain or spinal cord may have a direct or indirect influence on each other. Imaging of the pediatric spine differs from…
Imaging the Pediatric Brain The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the skull, brain, spine, and spinal cord. Imaging the brain in children differs from imaging adult patients in many respects. Ultrasound, a modality rarely used in adult neuroradiology, plays…
Imaging Techniques Radiography Conventional radiographs depict the bony detail of the skeletal system quite well and remain the mainstay in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disease. In the setting of acute trauma, radiographic views of the long bones are obtained in…
This chapter provides an introduction to pediatric genitourinary imaging for the radiology resident. It will focus on diseases commonly encountered in or specific to children and congenital anomalies. Diseases more commonly seen in adults will not be covered extensively in…