Gamma camera

Definition

A gamma camera is a device used in nuclear medicine to image the distribution of radioactive tracers in a patient's body. It detects gamma rays emitted from the tracer and converts them into electrical signals to create images.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Gamma cameras are primarily used for diagnostic imaging in nuclear medicine, such as SPECT scans.
2. The device consists of a scintillation crystal that emits light when struck by gamma rays.
3. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) convert the emitted light into electrical signals.
4. Gamma cameras provide functional information about organs and tissues, unlike X-rays which provide structural details.
5. The spatial resolution of a gamma camera is typically lower than that of other imaging modalities like MRI or CT.

Review Questions

• What type of medical imaging uses a gamma camera?
• How does a gamma camera detect and convert gamma rays into images?
• What kind of information do gamma cameras provide compared to X-rays?

Related terms

SPECT: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, an imaging technique that uses gamma cameras to create three-dimensional images.

Scintillation Crystal: A material in the gamma camera that emits light when it absorbs gamma rays.

Photomultiplier Tube (PMT): A component in the gamma camera that converts light from the scintillation crystal into electrical signals.