32 MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR
PHYSICS
Figure 32.1Tori Randall, Ph.D., curator for the Department of Physical Anthropology at the San Diego Museum of Man, prepares a 550-year-old Peruvian child mummy for a
CT scan at Naval Medical Center San Diego. (credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samantha A. Lewis)
Learning Objectives
32.1. Medical Imaging and Diagnostics- Explain the working principle behind an anger camera.
- Describe the SPECT and PET imaging techniques.
32.2. Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation - Define various units of radiation.
- Describe RBE.
32.3. Therapeutic Uses of Ionizing Radiation - Explain the concept of radiotherapy and list typical doses for cancer therapy.
32.4. Food Irradiation - Define food irradiation low dose, and free radicals.
32.5. Fusion - Define nuclear fusion.
- Discuss processes to achieve practical fusion energy generation.
32.6. Fission - Define nuclear fission.
- Discuss how fission fuel reacts and describe what it produces.
- Describe controlled and uncontrolled chain reactions.
32.7. Nuclear Weapons - Discuss different types of fission and thermonuclear bombs.
- Explain the ill effects of nuclear explosion.
CHAPTER 32 | MEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS 1149