Which imaging requires a special license from the environmental agency?

Which imaging requires a special license from the environmental agency?

• A. MRI
• B. Scintigraphy
• C. CT
• D. Ultrasound

Answer: (B)

Imaging that uses radioactive materials requires regulatory oversight to prevent environmental contamination and protect people. Scintigraphy uses radiopharmaceuticals, such as technetium-99m, which are administered to the animal and emit radiation detected by a gamma camera. Because handling, storage, and disposal of these radioactive substances pose environmental and safety risks, facilities must obtain a license from the environmental authority (part of radiological safety regulation). The other modalities do not involve radioactive sources: MRI relies on magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy, ultrasound uses sound waves, and CT uses X-rays but licensing for those procedures typically falls under medical/radiation safety regulations rather than environmental licensing. So scintigraphy is the imaging that requires that special license.

Imaging that uses radioactive materials requires regulatory oversight to prevent environmental contamination and protect people. Scintigraphy uses radiopharmaceuticals, such as technetium-99m, which are administered to the animal and emit radiation detected by a gamma camera. Because handling, storage, and disposal of these radioactive substances pose environmental and safety risks, facilities must obtain a license from the environmental authority (part of radiological safety regulation). The other modalities do not involve radioactive sources: MRI relies on magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy, ultrasound uses sound waves, and CT uses X-rays but licensing for those procedures typically falls under medical/radiation safety regulations rather than environmental licensing. So scintigraphy is the imaging that requires that special license.