A Scientometric Analysis Of Nuclear Medicine Technology - Dissertation Example

A Scientometric Analysis of Scholarly Productivity in Diagnostic Medical Sonography vs. Nuclear Medicine Technology Submission: Total Number of Words: 3,626 A. Introduction – 70 WORDS The Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia strongly support the need to continuously improve the quality of health care given to patients with female reproductive health problems (Ministry of Health, 2013). Therefore, to improve health care services, health care workers are obliged to conduct their own research studies. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a scientometric analysis of scholarly productivity in diagnostic medical sonography vs. nuclear medicine technology. 1. The Main Idea of My Dissertation – 287 WORDS Both diagnostic medical sonography and the nuclear medicine technology are similar to one another in the sense that both sonography and nuclear technology are used in the study of medicine as a tool for diagnosing and screening of various diseases (i.e. signs of malignant bone lesions, bone infections, or any kind of stress that can causes pain on the patients (Archive, 2015), appendicitis (Gjelsteen et al., 2008), pelvic pain, suspected for adnexal masses, or the presence of ectopic pregnancy (Busse, 2010; Gjelsteen et al., 2008), and various cancer diseases such as breast cancer, (vans & Bates, 2005), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Gao et al., 2014), large hepatocelluclar carcinoma or malignant hepatoma (Hill & Hill, 2014), and ovarian cancer. The only difference between diagnostic medical sonography and the nuclear medicine technology is that diagnostic medical sonography are using a special type of technology that emits no ionizing radiation that could harm the patients’ current health condition. Based on the term nuclear, the nuclear medicine technology emits different kind of ionizing radiation which could negatively affect the patients’ health condition when excessively exposed to radiation (i.e. 131I, 90Y, 18F, and 67Ga, etc.) (Eckerman & Endo, 2008; European Pharmacopoeia, 2005). The scientometric analysis is mainly concerned about the quantitative attributes or characteristics of the past and current studies published online. Often times, a scientometric analysis can be performed as a way to evaluate the work performance of a specific research group or universities, a country, and a group of researcher or scientist (Dutton and Jeffreys, 2010, p. 45). In line with this, the main idea of my dissertation is to conduct a scientometric analysis of scholarly productivity in diagnostic medical sonography vs. nuclear medicine technology. 2. Scientometric Analysis – 444 WORDS In general, a scientometric analysis can be performed to analyze and measure the usage of journal publications, its credibility and current position as a research institute (Reber & Brossard, 2013). Basically, scientometric analysis aims to measure the output of journals and evaluate how the published articles will affect the world of obstetrics and gynecology. Using statistical methods, it is possible to analyze and interpret quantitative data with regards to the past and current performances of different academic or research publishers (Feller & Stern, 2006). The scientometric method was purposely created in order to explore the works of different authors and journals (Feller & Stern, 2006). As a common tool used for description and analysis, the method of scientometric analysis can be applied not only to the past and currently published journal articles but also other reading materials such as academic books, conference proceedings, and other unknown published papers (Sanitt, 1996, p. 76). Using the scientometric method, researchers can have the opportunity to evaluate the pattern wherein journal articles have been cited in other journals (i.e. self-cited or cited by other researchers) (Joerges & Shinn, 2001, p. 77). Other reasons why researchers need to conduct scientometric analysis include the need to determine the strengths and limitations of each research institute or to create a benchmark for each country’s research output (Dutton and Jeffreys, 2010, p. 45). Based on the scientometric analysis result, publishers with a strong or better score on its scholarly productivity are the ones that can win the support of government funding for future research studies (Dutton and Jeffreys, 2010, p. 45). Despite the advantages of scientometric analysis, there are some limitations with regards to the use of this method. For instance, scientometric analysis has been criticized for being unable to provide an accurate measurement with regards to “knowledge production” (Thorsteinsdóttir, 2012, p. 34). This is due to the fact that most developing countries normally do not have their own databases that can be used openly by people worldwide. Since most of the widely used databases are found and created by people in Western countries, most of the scientometric studies that were conducted in the past does not reflect the existence of most journal articles found in developing countries worldwide. Scientometric researchers are focused on determining which journal, author, or publishers are better in terms of quality (Feller & Stern, 2006). Often times, scientometric analysis is performed depending on the main purpose of the researcher (i.e. author-based scientometric analysis, bibliometric analysis, country-based analysis, etc.) (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008; Sanitt, 1996, p. 76). In the proposed dissertation, scientometric analysis will be applied between diagnostic medical sonography and the nuclear medicine technology. 3. The Nuclear Medicine Technology – 795 WORDS Applicable to general obstetrics and gynecology, the nuclear medicine technology is one of the common techniques used in the patients’ diagnosis and treatment (GateWay Community College, 2015). Other than diagnosis and treatment purposes, nuclear medicine such as the application of radioactive materials is also necessary when doing experimental research studies (University of Wisconsin La Crosse, 2015). Often times, study of nuclear medicine technology includes the use of various medical equipments which includes the scintigraphy (2 dimensional image), SPECT – a type of single photon emission computed tomography that offers three (3) dimensional imaging, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, PET/CT scan, indium white blood cell scans, gallium scans, and ocetreotide scans among others (Archive, 2015; Das, 2015, p. 190). The positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, PET/CT scan, indium white blood cell scans, gallium scans, and ocetreotide scans are commonly used by nuclear medicine therapists to create a whole body scan which is necessary to allow the healthcare professionals to clearly evaluate the pathology of bone structure paying special attention to signs of malignant bone lesions, bone infections, or any kind of stress that can causes pain on the patients (Archive, 2015). As compared to PET/CT scan, some people prefer the use of PET/MRI more than the PET/CT scan because PET/MRI can produce a better imaging test especially for disease-specific and organ-specific cases (Das, 2015, p. 189). All these five (5) different whole body scans are very much different to other traditional or conventional radiology imaging tests such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scan), among many others (Gjelsteen et al., 2008; Valk et al., 2006, p. 27; Workman & Coleman, 2006, p. 25). Through the use or administration of small quantity of radiopharmaceutical products, healthcare professionals are able to easily assess and treat the patients’ current physical health condition (GateWay Community College, 2015). In practice, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scan), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and PET/CT scan can be use in evaluating obstetric and gynecologic patients (Gjelsteen et al., 2008). Often times, the MRI and CT scan can be used to evaluate OB/GYN patients with surgical complications whereas MRI alone can be used in examining cases of appendicitis amongst pregnant women (Gjelsteen et al., 2008). Applicable to women of child-bearing ages, pain felt on the lower right quadrant strongly suggest cases of appendicitis (Jearwattanakanok et al., 2013). For acute abdominal pain, it is best to combine the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scan), and ultrasonography so as to get the most accurate diagnosis (Cicchiello, Hamper, & Scoutt, 2011; Gjelsteen et al., 2008). Endovaginal ultrasound can be used in evaluating women who are experiencing pelvic pain, suspected for adnexal masses, or the presence of ectopic pregnancy (Busse, 2010; Gjelsteen et al., 2008). Although not considered as cost-effective, PET scan can be used when diagnosing recurrent cervical cancer (Habib, 2013). Aside from MRI, Gjelsteen et al. (2008) mentioned that CT scan and PET scan can be used when there is a need to detect the stage of gynecologic malignancy. Unlike the other traditional or conventional radiology imaging tests, the imaging tests in nuclear medicine are more focused on tissue and/or organ specific imaging such as a heart scan, bone scan, lungs scan, etc.) (Archive, 2015). Furthermore, the nuclear medicine scans adopts the use of high technology such as a software and hybrid cameras to create a better images from the conventional MRI or CT scan (i.e. PET/CT and SPECT/CT) (Das, 2015, p. 189). Using either PET/CT or SPECT/CT in nuclear medicine, it is possible for nuclear medicine therapists to create a better image with regards to the patients’ anatomical features and functions (i.e. multiple metastases of cancerous cells, etc.) (Archive, 2015). Among the few common isotopes used in the study of nuclear medicine technology includes the following: (1) iodine - 131 (131I); and (2) yttrium - 90 (90Y) for therapy purposes (Eckerman & Endo, 2008). On the other hand, common isotopes such as the following: (1) fluorine - 18 (18F); (2) gallium - 67 (67Ga); (3) krypton - 81m (81mKr); (3) nitrogen - 13 (13N); (4) Indium - 111 (111In); (5) Iodine - 123 (123I); (6) rubidium - 82 (82Rb); (7) technetium - 99m (99mTC); and (8) thallium - 201 (201TI) among others (Eckerman & Endo, 2008; European Pharmacopoeia, 2005). As a common knowledge, the nuclear medicine technology is focused on studying the best way to practice and deal with radioactive substances during the patients’ diagnosis and/or treatment. As such, one of the main concerns of nuclear medicine therapists is to protect the patients from being exposed on too much radiation. In fact, the use of lesser radiation to obtain the desired imaging test should always be followed. 3. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography – 760 WORDS Entirely different from the nuclear medicine technology, diagnostic medical sonography such as ultrasonic imaging test that normally produces either a two (2) dimensional or three (3) dimensional imaging of the human body. Instead of being performed by the nuclear medicine therapists or radiologists, the diagnostic medical sonography is commonly done by most diagnostic medical sonographers (SDMS, 2015). To create a much better imaging test result, it is possible to combine the use of diagnostic medical sonography with other traditional or conventional imaging test equipments such as the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT scan) (Explore Health Careers, 2015). As compared to the nuclear medicine technology, diagnostic medical sonography is less harmful because it uses mainly a non-ionizing ultrasound technology. It means that a high frequency ultrasound waves are used to create visual images of the patients’ blood flow, tissue or body organs (i.e. the reproductive system, breasts, prostate, abdomen area, heart, or blood vessels) (Explore Health Careers, 2015; SDMS, 2015). As compared to conventional imaging test such as x-ray, the use of sonography is much better because it prevents the patients from becoming exposed to radiation during the imaging test (SDMS, 2015). In fact, the use of sonography is actually free from radiation. This explains why diagnostic medical sonography is more commonly used in pregnant women (Explore Health Careers, 2015) and cancer patients (Gao et al., 2014; Hill & Hill, 2014; van Calster et al., 2014; vans & Bates, 2005). When using the medical sonography or ultrasonography for medical diagnosis, the health care professionals are able to accurately visualize the structure of each patient’s specific internal organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys including their tendons and muscles (Lane, 2012). Using medical sonography such as the muscle skeletal ultrasound as a tool for medical diagnosis and assessment, Lane (2012) explained that the health care professionals are able to detect pathological signs of lesions in the patients’ bones, muscles, and tendons. The intravascular sonography (IVS) can be used when evaluating the patients’ vessel areas (Kruk et al., 2014). Even though both IVS and computed tomography angiography can be used when it comes to evaluating the patients’ vessel areas, Kruk et al. (2014) revealed that the use of computed tomography angiography can result to over estimation each time health care professionals would use this particular technology for the evaluation of vessels a 50-HU threshold. In general, the application or use of diagnostic medical sonography is applicable to different fields of medicine. For instance, as an imaging test, diagnostic medical sonography can be used each time the health care professionals need to diagnose, assess or screen the patients for signs and stages of breast cancer (vans & Bates, 2005), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Gao et al., 2014), large hepatocelluclar carcinoma or malignant hepatoma (Hill & Hill, 2014), and ovarian cancer among many other diseases (van Calster et al., 2014). In line with this, van Calster et al. (2014) mentioned that the transvaginal ultrasonography can be used in detecting or assessing the patients for signs of ovarian cancer. In case the use of transvaginal ultrasonography method is not enough to visualize the transvaginal probe, the transabdominal sonography can be used as an alternative option (van Calster et al., 2014). The Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is mostly applicable to the study and diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (i.e. for viewing of the four chambers of the heart, ascending aorta, left and right pulmonary vein, etc.) (Hahn et al., 2013). Often times, TEE can be used in cardiopulmonary heart bypass operation (Huang et al., 2013). Using TEE, Huang et al. (2013) explained that the heart surgeons can easily view three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography on a real-time basis to point out the exact length of artificial chordate needed for the actual repair of the mitral valve. One of the main reasons why medical sonography or ultrasonography is commonly used in cancer patients is because the ultrasound technology can provide the patients with a test that is free from too much ionizing radiation (Lane, 2012). It means that through the use of the medical sonography or ultrasonography, the health care professionals can avoid the risks of adding risks of creating some breakage in the chromosome or create more hazards to the health of the cancer patients. When there is a need to examine or diagnose the patients for signs of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Gao et al. (2014) mentioned that the use of both MRI and sonography are equally good in terms of providing the health care professionals with an exellent diagnostic performance. In other words, the MRI and sonography plays a signficant role in the screening of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Gao et al., 2014). 4. Scholarly Productivity – 719 WORDS The term scholarly productivity in this study is referring to value and usability of a scholar or academic publisher to other researchers. Basically, the main purpose of determining the scholarly productivity is to ensure that the publisher has been productive in terms of being able to have strong influence over other researcher’s work or at least being able to get credit for the input the researcher has contributed to the world of literature. When performing scientometric analysis, scholarly productivity can be noted and measured based on the SJR values, total number of documents published each year, the total number the publisher has been cited in other publication’s bibliography, the total number of self cites, the average amount of references per document published, the number of documents that were never cited by anyone at all, and the publication rate with its international affiliates. Often times, these values can easily be identified and monitored using websites that offers ready access to these values (i.e. http://www.scimagojr.com). Basically, it is always better to have low number of self cites as compared to cites made by other researchers. Likewise, a publisher with high scholarly productivity should have very few documents that were never cited by anyone at all. Earlier, it was mentioned that scientometric analysis is performed depending on the main purpose of the researcher (i.e. author-based scientometric analysis, bibliometric analysis, country-based analysis, etc.) (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008; Sanitt, 1996, p. 76). With this in mind, the term scholarly productivity when applied to an author-based scientometric analysis can be measured depending on the number of times the name of the author has been cited in other publications by other researchers. In case of bibliomemtric-centered analysis, the term scholarly productivity can refer to the number of times in which a study has been cited in the bibliogprahy of other publications and authors. In case of doing a country-based analysis, the term scholarly productivity can refer to the number of times a specific publication or author has been cited in a specific country. When doing a scientometric analysis, one should keep in mind that the two (2) common indices used in this particular research method include the following: (1) the Egghe’s Index (g-index); and (2) the Hirsch’s Index (h-index). Basically, the h-index aims to measure the “scholar’s scientific output” whereas the g-index is simply a modification of the old h-index (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008, p. 20). To be considered as one that has a good or better scholarly productivity, the h-index should be at least 9 or 11 (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008, p. 20). For example, in the case of the h-index of nuclear medicine technology is 25 whereas the h-index of the diagnostic medical sonography is 10 (SJR, 2015a; SJR, 2015b), it means that it is safe to conclude that between the nuclear medicine technology and the diagnostic medical sonography, the nuclear medicine technology has a much better scholarly productivity as compared to the diagnostic medical sonography. Aside from looking at the h-index value, there are other ways to determine whether or not the nuclear medicine technology is really better in terms of being widely used worldwide. Again, this study aims to conduct a scientometric analysis of scholarly productivity of diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology between 1999 to 2013. Therefore, other ways to know or measure the scholarly productivity of both the diagnostic medical sonography and the nuclear medicine technology includes the need to identify and analyze the historical trend of the SJR values of both diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology, the total number of documents published by both diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology, the total number of references wherein both diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology has been cited in other publications or authors, the average self-cites and amount of references per document published by both diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology, the number of documents that was never cited in other publications, and the publication ratio of diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology with their respective international affiliates. In the process of analyzing the annual data and historical trend of these variables, it is possible for the researcher to easily detect and determine whether or not diagnostic medical sonography has a better scholarly productivity as compared to the nuclear medicine technology. B. Research Methods – 532 WORDS 3.1 Data Collection Strategy This study aims to conduct a scientometric analysis of scholarly productivity in diagnostic medical sonography and nuclear medicine technology between 1999 to 2013. Using the h-index found on the database of SCImago Journal & Country Rank, the main objective of this study is to identify and record the number of times in which these two (2) journals had been cited in other similar or closely related studies. As part of the research study sub-objectives, the researcher seeks to determine the SJR values between 1999 to 2013, the total documents published, total number of references each year, total number of self cites during the past 3 years, the average amount of references per document, and the publication ratio with its international affiliates. All data presented in this report was gathered directly from the database of the database of SCImago Journal & Country Rank (http://www.scimagojr.com). Using the search query option, both “Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography” and “Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology” were encoded as the journal title being searched in this particular database. Eventually, it is necessary to click on “Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography” and “Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology” that comes out from the search process. 3.2 Data Analysis Among the most widely used scientometric indices includes: (1) the Egghe’s Index (g- index); and (2) the Hirsch’s Index (h-index). Basically, the h-index aims to measure the “scholar’s scientific output” whereas the g-index is simply a modification of the old h-index (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008, p. 20). Even though the g-index is more advanced as compared to the h-index, only the h-index was considered in this study. Gile suggests that the h-index should be at least 11 whereas Toury suggests that the h-index should be at least 9 (Grbic & Pollabauer, 2008, p. 20). In analyzing the gathered data, the h-index value as suggested by Gile will be considered in this study. Therefore, the h-index should be at least 11 to be considered as one that has a good or better scholarly productivity. Taken from the database of the database of SCImago Journal & Country Rank (http://www.scimagojr.com), other measures that was considered in analyzing the scholarly productivity of both the Diagnostic Medical Sonography vs. the Nuclear Medicine Technology includes the comparison between the following variables: (1) citation versus self-citation; (2) SJR values versus 2-year cites per document; (3) cited journals versus documents that were not cited; and (4) percentage (%) of documents that were produced by researchers outside the United States. Basically, to be considered as one that has a high scholarly productivity, the number of times the journal has been cited by other authors of other publications should be way much higher as compared to the number of self-cited journals. Since SJR values strongly represents how well the journal has made a strong scientific influence to the end users, journals with very high SJR values are the ones being considered as a journal that has high scholarly productivity. Often times, published journals that are not cited in other studies means that the journal has low scholarly productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to point out journals with high frequency of citation and number of international collaboration. References Archive. (2015). Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic. Tomography and Imaging . Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://archive.org/stream/NuclearMedicineDiagnosticTomographyAndImaging/NuclearMedicinev4_330pMb22_djvu.txt Busse, R. (2010). Imagng modalities in gynecology. Donald School Journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 4(1), pp.1-2. Cicchiello, L., Hamper, U., & Scoutt, L. (2011). Ultrasound evaluation of gynecologic causes of pelvic pain. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 38(1), pp. 85-114. Das, B. (2015). Positron Emission Tomography: A Guide for Clinicians. London: Springer. Dutton, W., & Jeffreys, P. (2010). World Wide Research: Reshaping the Sciences and Humanities. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Eckerman, K., & Endo, A. (2008). MIRD: Radionuclide Data and Decay Schemes. Society for Nuclear Medicine. European Pharmacopoeia. (2005). 5.7. TABLE OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIONUCLIDES MENTIONED IN THE EUROPEAN PHARMACOPOEIA. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://lib.njutcm.edu.cn/yaodian/ep/EP5.0/05_general_texts/5.7.__table_of_physical_characteristics_of_radionuclides_mentioned_in_the_european_pharmacopoeia/57.PDF Explore Health Careers. (2015). Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/29/Diagnostic_Medical_Sonographer Feller, I., & Stern, P. (2006). A Strategy for Assessing Science: Behavioral and Social Research on Aging. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Gao, Y., Zhu, S. D., Lu, B., & Lu, L. (2014). Diagnostic accuracy of sonography versus magnetic resonance imaging for primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine , 33(5), pp. 827-384. GateWay Community College. (2015). Nuclear Medicine Technology. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://www.gatewaycc.edu/nuclear-medicine-technology Gjelsteen, A., Ching, B., Douglas, M., et al. (2008). CT, MRI, PET, PET/CT, and Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Obstetric and Gynecologic Patients. Surgical Clinics of North America, 88(2), pp. 361-390. Gjelsteen, A., Ching, B., Meyermann, M., et al. (2008). CT, MRI, PET, PET/CT, and ultrasound in the evaluation of obstetric and gynecologic patients. Surgical Clinics of North America, 88(2), pp. 361-390. Grbic, N., & Pollabauer, S. (2008). An author-centred scientometric analysis of Daniel Giles oeuvre. Hansen, G.; Andrew Chesterman, A.; Gerzymisch-Arbogast, H. (eds) "Efforts and Models in Interpreting and Translation Research: A tribute to traslation research". Philadelphia, PA: John Benjamins North America. Habib, J. (2013, June 19). http://www.obgyn.net/gynecological-oncology/pet-scan-not-cost-effective-diagnosing-recurrent-cervical-cancer. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://www.obgyn.net/gynecological-oncology/pet-scan-not-cost-effective-diagnosing-recurrent-cervical-cancer Hahn, R., Abraham, T., Adams, M., et al. (2013). Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Transesophageal Echocardiographic Examination: Recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, 26(9), pp. 921-964. Hill, D., & Hill, J. (2014). Large Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Essentially Asymptomatic Young Woman. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography , DOI: 10.1177/8756479314539392. Huang, H.-L., Xie, X.-J., Fei, H.-W., et al. (2013). Real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography to predict artificial chordae length for mitral valve repair. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 8: 137. doi:10.1186/1749-8090-8-137. Jearwattanakanok, K., Yamada, S., Suntornlimsiri, W., et al. (2013). Clinical Indicators for Differential Diagnosis of Acute Lower Abdominal Pain in Women of Reproductive Age. Journal of Current Surgery, 3(1), pp. 13-18. Joerges, B., & Shinn, T. (2001). Instrumentation Between Science, State and Industry. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers. Kruk, M., Wrdziak, L., Mintz, G., Achenback, S., et al. (2014). Accuracy of coronary computed tomography angiography vs intravascular ultrasound for evaluation of vessel area. Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 8(2), pp. 141-148. Lane, J. (2012). 52 Days: the Cancer Journal: A True Story. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse. Ministry of Health. (2013). Guidelines for Obstetrics & Gynecology. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://static.moh.gov.sa/internet_layouts/MOH/Internet/Guidlines/ObstetricsAndGynecology.pdf Moed, H. (2005). Citation Analysis in Research Evaluation. AA Dordrecht: Springer. Reber, B., & Brossard, C. (2013). Digital Cognitive Technologies: Epistemology and Knowledge Society. Wiley & SonJohn s. Sanitt, N. (1996). Science as a Questioning Process. London: IOP Publishing Ltd. SDMS. (2015). Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.sdms.org/jdms/ SDMS. (2015). What is sonography? Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://www.sdms.org/career/career.asp SJR. (2015a). Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=17231&tip=sid&clean=0 SJR. (2015b). Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=17211&tip=sid&clean=0 SJR. (2015c). Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=17231&tip=sid&clean=0 SJR. (2015d). Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www.scimagojr.com/journalsearch.php?q=17211&tip=sid&clean=0 Thorsteinsdóttir, H. (2012). South-South Collaboration in Health Biotechnology: Growing Partnerships. Ottawa, ON: Intrnational Development Research Centre. University of Wisconsin La Crosse. (2015). NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY. Retrieved January 30, 2015, from http://www.uwlax.edu/Health-Professions/Nuclear-Medicine-Technology/ Valk, P., Delbeke, D., Bailey, D., Townsend, D., & Maisey, M. (2006). Positron Emission Tomography: Clinical Practice. London: Springer-Verlag. van Calster, B., van Hoorde, K., Valentin, L., et al. (2014). Evaluating the risk of ovarian cancer before surgery using the ADNEX model to differentiate between benign, borderline, early and advanced stage invasive, and secondary metastatic tumours: prospective multicentre diagnostic study. BMJ, 349:g5920. vans, K., & Bates, R. (2005). Describing Elderly Women in Assisted Livings Risk for Breast Cancer and Participation in Screening Behaviors. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 21, pp. 320-328. Workman, R., & Coleman, R. (2006). PET/CT: Essentials for Clinical Practice. NY: Springer Science. Read More