NMTEC 242 - Radionuclide Therapy and Theranostics

1 CR

An important and growing area of nuclear medicine practice is the use of radionuclides for therapeutic purposes. New radionuclide therapy procedures go by the term “theranostics,” because the diagnostic test shows exactly where the therapeutic radionuclide will be taken up. This course covers theoretical and practical aspects of radionuclide therapies, as well as specific protocols for specific procedures.

Prerequisite(s): Acceptance into the program.

Course Outcomes

Explain the basic principles of radionuclide therapy, including the action of radiation; general principles of localization, metabolism, and excretion; and general understanding of efficacy, side effects, adverse reactions, and toxicity.
Discuss the radiation safety considerations for radionuclide therapy, as they pertain to dose handling and measurement, safety of technologists and other staff, and patient/family safety.
Outline the conditions that determine whether a radionuclide therapy patient may go home, and the necessary room preparation, monitoring, and cleaning required when hospitalization is necessary.
For each radionuclide therapy or theranostic procedure discussed in the course, discuss:
- Rationale for treatment and explanation to patient and family members
- Criteria for treatment
- Patient preparation
- Scheduling of treatment(s)
- Adjunctive medications
- Dose administration and patient monitoring
- Instructions for minimizing radiation exposure of others
Discuss radionuclide therapy situations that require the efforts of multiple departments, including education, communication, scheduling, and troubleshooting problems.

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