What is nuclear medicine myocardial perfusion stress test?

Myocardial perfusion is an imaging test. It’s also called a nuclear stress test. It is done to show how well blood flows through the heart muscle. It also shows how well the heart muscle is pumping.

What is cardiac scintigraphy?

What is heart scintigraphy? Myocardial scintigraphy combined with ergometry or a pharmacological (medicinal) stress test, is the most sensitive non-invasive test to identify and locate reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (Ischaemia).

What does gamma camera measure?

The gamma camera or SPECT camera is a camera that is able to detect scintillations (flashes of light) produced when gamma rays, resulting from radioactive decay of single photon emitting radioisotopes, interact with a sodium iodide crystal at the front of the camera.

What is the difference between gamma camera and spect?

Overview. SPECT (Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography) is a diagnostic imaging technique used in nuclear medicine which studies PHYSIOLOGICAL (FUNCTIONAL) processes in the body. Gamma cameras are used to construct an image of the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals spread out in the body of a patient.

What is a MIBI stress test?

A sestamibi (MIBI) scan measures the amount of blood being supplied to your heart. The scan is done in two parts: At rest – sitting and breathing normally. After a chemical or physical stress test – when your heart is beating faster after exercising on a treadmill or exercise bike.

What does the crystal in a gamma camera do?

The detection element at the heart of a gamma camera is a large rectangular crystal of sodium iodide doped with thallium: NaI (Tl). The crystal has the ability to stop incoming gamma rays and convert part of the deposited energy into scintillations.

What are the disadvantages of using gamma rays?

Disadvantages of gamma rays compared with X-rays

• Poorer quality radiographs.
• Exposure times can be longer.
• Sources need replacing.
• Radiation cannot be switched off.
• Poorer geometric unsharpness.
• Remote handling necessary.

Which is better PET or spect?

PET Scan Images are Clearer PET scan images are generally reported to offer a higher resolution of 5 to 7 mm, compared with a cardiac SPECT scan resolution of 12 to 15 mm. With a higher resolution, radiologists can detect changes to the heart’s blood flow at a granular level.

How often is the uniformity test of the gamma camera performed and what is the significance of this test?

Note that because of the high counts present in such an acquisition, it is often necessary to acquire a high-count uniformity correction map (~100 Mcts or more) in order to provide adequate uniformity correction for this study. This test of tomographic resolution and uniformity should be performed every 6 months.

How to evaluate the sharpness of a camera lens?

Open a series of images (single lens or single focal length) and start comparing the visual sharpness of the center of the images and the corners. Take some notes. You can also evaluate the images for vignetting and symmetry, as well. For symmetry, verify that the lack of sharpness in the corners is the same for each side of the lens.

What is the sharpness of a 400mm lens?

Most lenses give optimal sharpness only when stopped down by 1 stop. For example A 100-400mm or an 80-400mm lens set at 400mm might give you sharper results at f/8 than at their widest aperture setting of f/5.6. At the widest aperture, these variable aperture zoom lenses yield softer images.

How can I improve the sharpness of my camera?

You can even use MLU (Mirror Lock Up) if you have it and want to be certain that camera movement isn’t affecting sharpness, though MLU probably isn’t necessary with lenses shorter than 100mm. Set the height of the tripod so that the center of the lens is level with the center of the chart.