Radiologic Technologist Exam 2025 – Ready, Set, Radiate Your Future!

Scintillation refers to the phenomenon where certain materials emit light, known as scintillations, when they absorb ionizing radiation. In nuclear medicine, scintillation detectors are commonly used to measure radioactivity. When a radioactive particle interacts with a scintillation material, such as sodium iodide (NaI), it causes the atoms of the material to become excited. As these excited atoms return to their ground state, they release energy in the form of visible light. This emitted light can then be detected and measured, allowing for the quantification of the radiation exposure and the assessment of radiopharmaceuticals within a patient's body.

This process is crucial in diagnostic imaging and therapy within nuclear medicine, contributing to the non-invasive visualization of metabolic processes in the body. The use of scintillation in medical imaging provides important diagnostic information about patient health, making it a valuable tool in contemporary medicine.