Scintigraphic imaging of the lungs is a sensitive diagnostic imaging tool to detect certain kinds of pulmonary abnormalities in correlation with clinical data and chest radiographs. Pulmonary scintigraphy is particularly useful in diagnosing medical conditions such as pulmonary embolism, bronchial carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Lung scintigraphy can be performed with radioaerosols, gaseous radiopharmaceuticals and technetium-99m-labeled perfusion agents that are localized by temporary capillary blockade.

Different types of lung scintigraphy include:
The choice of the radioactive tracer varies and depends on the pulmonary function to be imaged. The radioactive tracer distribution within the lungs can be displayed on a computer screen via a gamma camera, a scanner or some other similarly suitable detector that records the radioactive disintegrations emitted by the patient. The images obtained present chromatic variations proportional to the regional radioactivity.

Microcalcifications in breast imaging are tiny white specks of calcium salts. Microcalcifications in clusters, seen on a mammogram, can be the only sign of ductal carcinoma in situ or early invasive cancer, or they can be associated with benign breast changes.

This elementary particle was already proposed in 1930 by Wolfgang Pauli and in 1934 by Enrico Fermi , and gets detected experimentally by Clyde Cowan and Fred Reines in 1956. In addition to the electron-, antielectron-neutrino the discovery of the muon-, antimuon-neutrino in 1962 and the tau-, antitau-neutrino in 2000 followed.
Neutrinos have no charge, a very small mass and interact rarely with matter, which make them difficult to detect. During beta decay, a neutron converts into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino, which is emitted. Some of today's Research projects try to find out the concrete mass of neutrinos or if neutrinos can change from one neutrino type to another.

See Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Radiation safety concerns the safe use of ionizing radiation. The radiation exposure has to be controlled to protect people and the environment from unnecessary exposure and the damaging effect to the health. Legal regulations require that radiation exposure (individual radiation exposure as well as collective dose) must be kept as low as reasonably achievable.
The electromagnetic spectrum includes x-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet radiation, visible light, infrared radiation, and radio waves. Additionally, there are several types of particulate radiation e.g., alpha and beta particles. All types of radiation are used in a wide range of medicine, industry, research and communication. Radiation risks can occur due to either long-term low level exposure or short-term high level exposure. A well-functioning dosimetry program is essential for a safe use and for compliance with federal and state regulations.

Three basic rules have to be observed for a safe use of ionizing radiation.

See also Inverse Square Law, Administrative Dose Guidelines and Annual Dose Limit.