Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT: Technology and Techniques

For more than two decades, this text has succinctly presented the procedures and technologies related to an ever-changing specialty. This 6th edition continues that tradition by providing a general update of all chapters, a new chapter on CT physics and instrumentation, and a revised focus to the increasingly important PET/CT systems. All aspects of nuclear medicine are explored, with a focus on pertinent anatomy and physiology and a discussion of each procedure in relation to the specific use of radiopharmaceuticals and instruments required. Foundation chapters cover basic math, statistics, physics instrumentation, computers, lab science, radiochemistry and pharmacology, allowing the user to understand how and why procedures are performed. High-profile editors and contributors come from a variety of educational and clinical settings, making this an authoritative and comprehensive resource. In-depth procedure discussions provide practical information relevant to clinical practice. Accessible writing style and approach to basic science subjects makes topics understandable, progressing from fundamentals to more complex concepts. A glossary provides definitions of specialized terminology and all important concepts. The focus changes from PET to combined PET/CT, with two chapters covering this topic in detail. New CT Physics and Instrumentation chapter provides the fundamentals of PET/CT studies. Significantly rewritten chapters include Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine, Skeletal System, and Inflammatory/Tumor Imaging and Therapy. Color insert is expanded to 8 pages to include clear, full-color PET/CT scans. 40 practice problems are included in the chapter on math and statistics, twice as many as before, with answers in the back of the book. Reader-friendly features include key terms, chapter outlines, and learning objectives. Suggested readings are also included throughout the book. A reference table of radionuclides used in nuclear medicine and PET is added to the appendix.