Gamma Nuclear Medicine Studies: Part 1—Head to Chest

Gamma imaging encompasses a broad range of studies spanning multiple organ systems. The myriad of radiotracers and radiopharmaceuticals, the dynamic nature of imaging protocols, and the complexity of image interpretation render early mastery of this topic a source of great challenge. This 2-part manuscript provides an educational resource that introduces the basic concepts of gamma nuclear imaging with a focus on the most encountered studies across institutions. For each type of study presented, we describe the typical indications, the radiotracer used, standard institutional imaging protocols, the interpretation of the images, and correlation with other imaging modalities where applicable. The information is presented in the context of illustrative cases to expose readers to many of the pathologic entities associated with the several types of studies encountered in the clinical setting. In Part 1, we introduce basic concepts of radiotracer decay and the physics of gamma imaging. Head-to-toe studies subsequently presented in this part include brain imaging, thyroid imaging, and lung ventilation and perfusion imaging.