NUMT 3020

This course will provide students with knowledge and understanding of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) physics, instrumentation, and quality control. The clinical applications of PET/CT in oncology, neurology, cardiology, infection/inflammation, and pediatrics will be covered in detail. In addition, a variety of PET radiopharmaceuticals will be discussed along with their corresponding clinical applications. Students will be introduced to radiation safety practices in PET/CT and how they differ from general nuclear medicine. Cyclotron physics, generators, and radiopharmaceutical synthesis will also be explored. PET radiopharmaceutical production and quality control, scanner instrumentation, equipment quality control, and imaging techniques will be covered with an emphasis on 18F FDG imaging, including clinical indications, normal bio-distribution, variants, artifacts, and pathological findings.