Principles of SPECT and PET scans MCQs

What does SPECT stand for?
- A) Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- B) Single Photon Emission Computed Topography
- C) Simple Photon Emission Computed Tomography
- D) Standardized Photon Emission Computed Tomography
What does PET stand for?
- A) Positron Emission Topography
- B) Positron Emission Tomography
- C) Positron Emission Technology
- D) Positron Emission Treatment
Which type of radiation is primarily detected in PET scans?
- A) X-rays
- B) Gamma rays
- C) Beta particles
- D) Alpha particles
What type of radiation is primarily detected in SPECT scans?
- A) Gamma rays
- B) X-rays
- C) Beta particles
- D) Neutrons
What is the main difference between SPECT and PET in terms of the radiopharmaceuticals used?
- A) SPECT uses positron-emitting isotopes
- B) PET uses positron-emitting isotopes, while SPECT uses gamma-emitting isotopes
- C) Both use the same isotopes
- D) SPECT uses only beta-emitting isotopes
Which of the following is a common radiotracer used in PET scans?
- A) Iodine-131
- B) Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)
- C) Technetium-99m
- D) Gallium-67
In SPECT imaging, what is the function of the gamma camera?
- A) Detect gamma radiation emitted from the radiotracer
- B) Produce the radiotracer
- C) Generate X-ray images
- D) Provide real-time imaging
What is the typical spatial resolution of PET scans compared to SPECT?
- A) Higher resolution than SPECT
- B) Lower resolution than SPECT
- C) Equal resolution
- D) Depends on the equipment
What is the primary purpose of using a collimator in SPECT imaging?
- A) To focus incoming gamma rays
- B) To produce higher resolution images
- C) To eliminate scatter radiation
- D) To enhance contrast
Which imaging technique is preferred for functional brain imaging?
- A) MRI
- B) PET
- C) X-ray
- D) CT
What is the main advantage of PET over SPECT?
- A) Lower cost
- B) Higher sensitivity and specificity
- C) Simplicity of operation
- D) Less radiation exposure
How are PET images typically reconstructed?
- A) Using iterative algorithms
- B) Using linear regression
- C) Through manual adjustment
- D) Using standard imaging techniques
What does the term “time-of-flight” refer to in PET imaging?
- A) The duration of the scan
- B) The measurement of the time taken for a photon to travel from the source to the detector
- C) The time taken to inject the radiotracer
- D) The duration for which the patient is scanned
What type of scans can be performed using both SPECT and PET techniques?
- A) Structural imaging
- B) Functional imaging
- C) Ultrasound imaging
- D) Contrast-enhanced imaging
Which of the following conditions can be diagnosed using SPECT imaging?
- A) Fractures
- B) Cardiac perfusion abnormalities
- C) Soft tissue tumors
- D) Gastrointestinal diseases
What is a common clinical application of PET imaging?
- A) Evaluating joint disorders
- B) Cancer staging and monitoring
- C) Diagnosing fractures
- D) Assessing lung function
Which of the following factors can affect the quality of SPECT images?
- A) Patient movement
- B) All of the above
- C) Collimator design
- D) Radiotracer distribution
What is the role of attenuation correction in PET scans?
- A) Increase scan time
- B) Compensate for tissue absorption of photons
- C) Enhance image brightness
- D) Decrease radiation exposure
Which imaging modality combines the strengths of both SPECT and CT?
- A) PET
- B) SPECT/CT
- C) MRI
- D) Ultrasound
What is the typical half-life of fluorine-18 used in PET imaging?
- A) 2 hours
- B) 110 minutes
- C) 12 hours
- D) 24 hours
What does a higher Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) indicate in PET imaging?
- A) Increased metabolic activity
- B) Decreased tissue viability
- C) Lowered oxygen supply
- D) Normal metabolic function
What kind of data does SPECT provide?
- A) Morphological data
- B) Functional data
- C) Genetic data
- D) Blood chemistry
Which of the following conditions can be evaluated with PET imaging?
- A) Alzheimer’s disease
- B) Bone fractures
- C) Acute infections
- D) Respiratory illnesses
What is a potential limitation of PET imaging?
- A) High sensitivity
- B) Higher cost compared to SPECT
- C) Non-invasive
- D) Immediate results
Which principle is utilized in both SPECT and PET imaging?
- A) X-ray absorption
- B) Detection of emitted radiation from a radiotracer
- C) Magnetic resonance
- D) Ultrasound reflection
What is the typical role of a radiopharmaceutical in PET imaging?
- A) Improve image quality
- B) Provide a source of radiation for imaging
- C) Reduce scanning time
- D) Enhance patient comfort
Which of the following best describes the principle of “tomography”?
- A) Imaging of moving organs
- B) Creating cross-sectional images
- C) Imaging surface structures only
- D) 3D reconstruction from 2D images
What advantage does SPECT have in cardiac imaging?
- A) Higher radiation dose
- B) Ability to visualize blood flow
- C) Better spatial resolution
- D) Faster scan times
What is the primary challenge in interpreting PET scans?
- A) Low radiation exposure
- B) False positives due to inflammation
- C) High-resolution images
- D) Lack of anatomical detail
What type of imaging is typically performed after a PET scan for anatomical localization?
- A) Ultrasound
- B) MRI
- C) CT scan
- D) SPECT

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