TY - JOUR T1 - Pediatric nuclear medicine, Part I: Developmental cues. JF - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology JO - J. Nucl. Med. Technol. SP - 3 LP - 7 VL - 28 IS - 1 AU - T A Veitch Y1 - 2000/03/01 UR - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/28/1/3.abstract N2 - 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. ER -