Positron Emission Tomography: Clinical Practice

This book provides a contemporary reference to the science, technology and clinical applications of PET and PET/CT. The book is designed to be used by residents and fellows training in medical imaging specialties as well as imaging experts in private or academic practice who need to become familiar with this technology and its applications. It is also for use by those whose specialties carry over to PET and PET/CT, referring physicians such as oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists and surgeons.

Developed as an offshoot/update of the "clinical practice" portion of the main book, edited by PE Valk et al, published in 2003 (Positron Emission Tomography: basic science and clinical practice), this offshoot covers the second half of the main book only, dealing with mainly the clinical research and practice. Most of the book comprises chapters updated from the "Clinical practice" portion of the main Valk book. It contains 6 brand new chapters and 22 completely revised and updated chapters from the main Valk book.

This text is based on the second half of P.E. Valk et al’s 2003 bestseller Positron Emission Tomography: Basic Science and Clinical Practice and deals with only the clinical research and applications. Positron Emission Tomography: Clinical Practice consists of twenty-two fully revised and thoroughly updated chapters enhanced further by six entirely new chapters. The abundance of new material makes this book an essential volume for anyone training in, or practicing, Nuclear Medicine.

The first chapters of this book summarize the scientific aspects of PET and PET/CT including physics, instrumentation, radiation dosimetry and radiation protection. A chapter on normal variants in FDG PET imaging serves as an introduction to the clinical chapters. The clinical chapters cover a wide range of oncology applications and they have been updated to include the impact of FDG PET/CT imaging in oncology. Two chapters address imaging with tracers other than FDG, such as an hypoxic tracer. The book concludes with chapters on the use of PET and PET/CT in cardiology and neurology. A chapter on PET imaging of infectious processes is also included.

The applications in this book will be useful for residents and those training in medical imaging specialties, as well as imaging professionals in private or academic practice who need to become familiar with this technology and its applications. This book will also be essential reading for those whose specialties carry over to PET and PET/CT, such as oncologists, cardiologists, neurologists and surgeons.