glossarynuclear-medicine

PMT

Photomultiplier Tube — converts scintillation photons to electrical signal. Replaced in some new systems by silicon photomultipliers (SiPM).

Why it matters to buyers: Dead PMT channels = regional sensitivity loss. Quarterly NEMA testing catches it.

Why it matters to engineers: Channel gain drift is normal; recalibration fixes most. Full replacement when drift exceeds correctable range.