

(author)Įxternal nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging of early primary and metastatic lung cancer tumors is difficult due to the poor sensitivity and resolution of existing gamma cameras. Regulatory bodies as part of their instrument audits can also use them. These devices are designed to fit any kind of probe. They were designed and built taking into consideration important aspects of radiological protection to handle the calibration sources and probes, both in air and into a scatter medium. This paper presents 3 devices with its accessories for acceptance and quality control tests of intraoperative gamma probes. Since they are recommended be carried out before any surgery procedure, they also should be easy and quick. On the other hand, tests in air demand a good reproducibility. The immersion of the probe and of the radioactive sources in each case represents both risks of radioactive contamination, and of damages to the equipment. These tests are considerably complex since open radioactive sources are used into a liquid medium in most of the procedures. Space resolution in a scatter medium is also a test that needs to be carried out. NEMA Standards Publication NU 3-2004 'Performance Measurement and Quality Control Guidelines for Non-Imaging Intraoperative Gamma Probes' recommends 13 tests although only 3 of them -sensibility in air, visual inspection and power source check- are considered as steadiness tests. Probes' parameters must remain within the acceptance limits, so they should be checked periodically. It is essential for achieving the main objective, which is an effective and safe surgical procedure, a reliable performance of the detection device. The clinical efficiency of these procedures requires the existence of well-trained professionals and implementation of quality assurance programs. Now a day, radio guided surgery -a novelty in Nuclear Medicine- is increasingly used.

Quality control devices for intraoperative gamma probes: physical, technical and radiation protection aspects The performance of this probe was clinically evaluated on the basis of spatial resolution and accuracy to detect the active node. The physical parameters are a high sensitivity of 5000 cps/MBq at probe tip with good spatial resolution. The detector probe is based on the scintillation detector housed in a stainless steel housing with lead collimator. The system consists of microcomputer-based gamma counting system that displays the number of pulses detected by the probe in counts per second and has an audible signal in direct correlation with the count density. Isotope Applications Division, BARC has developed indigenously a RIG Surgical Gamma Probe in consultation with the doctors from Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, New Delhi. It enables the localization of the active node. The surgical gamma probe is a hand-held device used in the localization of SLN. Early detection is carried out by collecting a sentinel lymph node (SLN) and testing it for cancer.

Choudhary, P.S.īreast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, which if detected in early stage can be effectively treated and cured. Singh, Gursharan Kumar, Umesh Pendharkar, A.S. International Nuclear Information System (INIS) 'RIG'- surgical gamma probe for early breast cancer detection
