Pediatric nuclear medicine, Part I: Developmental cues

OBJECTIVE: Children provide a continuous challenge for the nuclear medicine technologist. The task of successfully completing a nuclear medicine procedure varies little among a 20-y-old, a 40-y-old and a 60-y-old patient. Successful completion of a procedure varies much more among a 2-y-old, a 4-y-old and a 6-y-old. Successfully completing a pediatric nuclear medicine procedure includes quick acquisitions, technically acceptable images or calculations, and satisfied patients and parents. Understanding your patient is crucial, and it provides the parents with a greater sense of comfort and confidence about the nuclear medicine technologist and the procedure. After reading this article the nuclear medicine technologist should be able to: (a) discuss the developmental stages of children according to several major theories; (b) identify the physical and mental expectations for each age group; (c) explain applications for incorporating this information into common pediatric nuclear medicine practice; and (d) discuss the common realities surrounding the behavior of children and their parents. A second article will feature tips, indications and populations for common pediatric procedures.