Special Considerations in Pediatric Nuclear Medicine

Abstract

Early and accurate diagnosis of childhood cancer plays a pivotal role in the outcome and survival of the child, which is why pediatric nuclear medicine is an important tool providing a non-invasive method for diagnosing, staging, evaluating treatment, and finding recurrent disease. This chapter explores common pediatric examinations in the field of nuclear medicine as well as the considerations related to this specific group of patients. Strengths and limitations of the modalities encountered in pediatric nuclear medicine are addressed and discussed, with special focus on radiopharmaceuticals and the considerations regarding the trade-off between radiation dosage and image quality inherent in this family of examinations. Lastly, the importance of hybrid imaging, where Computed Tomography (CT) examinations are performed in conjunction with the nuclear medicine examination, is presented with a special focus on keeping the radiation dosages from the CT examinations As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). The ALARA principle is particularly important when working with pediatric patients, as they are more radiosensitive compared to the adult population.