Whole-body monitoring and in vivo activation analysis in nuclear medicine

The thesis describes the development and application of two new techniques in nuclear medicine. The first involves a fundamentally different approach to the attainment of high sensitivity using a whole-body monitor. It represents a significant advance on existing methods. The second technique, in vivo activation analysis of iodine in the thyroid gland, apparently has not been reported previously. It may prove an important clinical tool for diagnosis and research since a knowledge of the total iodine content of the thyroid will provide a better understanding of the aetiology of its associated diseases. No other technique can evidently provide this data. A new design of whole-body monitor has been developed utilising a shadow shield weighing 7-8 tons compared with conventional shields of 30-50 tonas. Construction of the prototype monitor and an assessment of its performance lead to the conclusion that sensitivity at least comparable with that of the conventional monitor should be attainable. The significant reduction in shield weight facilitates the incorporation of this design of monitor in a mobile laboratory. Clinical studies of iron metabolism and of vitamin metabolism have been carried out using the prototype monitor. The award of a research grant by the Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust enabled the construction of a high sensitivity mobile whole-body monitor (MERLIN). Its performance is shown to be better than most conventional monitors and at least comparable with the remainder. Apart from the advantage of mobility, the monitor can foe used as on installed monitor capable of incorporation in almost any existing laboratory. The sensitivity can be easily varied to meet individual requirements while the cost of mi installed high sensitivity monitor, with a 100-channel pulse height analyser, can be loss tha