The field of nuclear medicine is expanding rapidly, with the development of exciting new diagnostic methods and treatments. This growth is closely associated with significant advances in radiation physics. In this book, acknowledged experts explain the basic principles of radiation physics in relation to nuclear medicine and examine important novel approaches in the field. The first section is devoted to what might be termed the "building blocks" of nuclear medicine, including the mechanisms of interaction between radiation and matter and Monte Carlo codes. In subsequent sections, radiation sources for medical applications, radiopharmaceutical development and production, and radiation detectors are discussed in detail. New frontiers are then explored, including improved algorithms for image reconstruction, biokinetic models, and voxel phantoms for internal dosimetry. Both trainees and experienced practitioners and researchers will find this book to be an invaluable source of up-to-date information.

The complexity and vulnerability of the human body has driven the development of a diverse range of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in modern medicine. The Nuclear Medicine procedures of Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Radionuclide Therapy are well-established in clinical practice and are founded upon the principles of radiation physics. This book will offer an insight into the physics of nuclear medicine by explaining the principles of radioactivity, how radionuclides are produced and administered as radiopharmaceuticals to the body and how radiation can be detected and used to produce images for diagnosis. The treatment of diseases such as thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism and lymphoma by radionuclide therapy will also be explored.

Edited by a renowned international expert in the field, Nuclear Medicine Physics offers an up-to-date, state-of-the-art account of the physics behind the theoretical foundation and applications of nuclear medicine. It covers important physical aspects of the methods and instruments involved in modern nuclear medicine, along with related biological

Physics in Nuclear Medicine - by Drs. Simon R. Cherry, James A. Sorenson, and Michael E. Phelps - provides current, comprehensive guidance on the physics underlying modern nuclear medicine and imaging using radioactively labeled tracers. This revised and updated fourth edition features a new full-color layout, as well as the latest information on instrumentation and technology. Stay current on crucial developments in hybrid imaging (PET/CT and SPECT/CT), and small animal imaging, and benefit from the new section on tracer kinetic modeling in neuroreceptor imaging. What's more, you can reinforce your understanding with graphical animations online at www.expertconsult.com, along with the fully searchable text and calculation tools. Master the physics of nuclear medicine with thorough explanations of analytic equations and illustrative graphs to make them accessible. Discover the technologies used in state-of-the-art nuclear medicine imaging systems Fully grasp the process of emission computed tomography with advanced mathematical concepts presented in the appendices. Utilize the extensive data in the day-to-day practice of nuclear medicine practice and research. Tap into the expertise of Dr. Simon Cherry, who contributes his cutting-edge knowledge in nuclear medicine instrumentation. Stay current on the latest developments in nuclear medicine technology and methods New sections to learn about hybrid imaging (PET/CT and SPECT/CT) and small animal imaging. View graphical animations online at www.expertconsult.com, where you can also access the fully searchable text and calculation tools. Get a better view of images and line art and find information more easily thanks to a brand-new, full-color layout.

This state-of-the-art handbook, the third and final in a series that provides medical physicists with a comprehensive overview into the field of nuclear medicine, focuses on highlighting the production and application of radiopharmaceuticals. With this, the book also describes the chemical composition of these compounds, as well as some of the main clinical applications where radiopharmaceuticals may be used. Following an introduction to the field of radiopharmacy, three chapters in this book are dedicated towards in-depth descriptions of common radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals used during diagnostic studies utilizing planar/Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging, in addition to during Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging, and, finally, radiotherapy. These chapters are followed by those describing procedures relating to quality control and manufacturing (good manufacturing practices) also encompassing aspects such as environmental compliance. Furthermore, this volume illustrates how facilities handling these chemicals should be designed to comply with set regulations. Like many pharmaceuticals, the development of radiopharmaceuticals relies heavily on the use of mouse models. Thus, the translation of radiopharmaceuticals (i.e., the process undertaken to assure that the functionality and safety of a newly developed drug is maintained also in a human context), is covered in a later chapter. This is followed by a chapter emphasising the importance of safe waste disposal and how to assure that these procedures meet the requirements set for the disposal of hazardous waste. Several chapters have also been dedicated towards describing various medical procedures utilizing clinical nuclear medicine as a tool for diagnostics and therapeutics. As physicists may be involved in clinical trials, a chapter describing the procedures and regulations associated with these types of studies is included. This is followed by a chapter focusing on patient safety and another on an imaging modality not based on ionizing radiation – ultrasound. Finally, the last chapter of this book discusses future perspectives of the field of nuclear medicine. This text will be an invaluable resource for libraries, institutions, and clinical and academic medical physicists searching for a complete account of what defines nuclear medicine. The most comprehensive reference available providing a state-of-the-art overview of the field of nuclear medicine Edited by a leader in the field, with contributions from a team of experienced medical physicists, chemists, engineers, scientists, and clinical medical personnel Includes the latest practical research in the field, in addition to explaining fundamental theory and the field's history

A basic knowledge of physics, instrumentation, and radiobiology is essential for nuclear physicians and technologists in the practice of nuclear medicine. The nuclear medicine specialty has matured over the past three decades to the extent that there is an increasing need for certification of physicians and technologists to practice nuclear medicine. Each year many medical residents take the American Board of Nuclear Medicine examination and the Ameri can Board of Radiology examination with special competency in Nuclear Radiology, and many technologists take the Registry examination in Nuclear Medicine. All these tests include a good portion of physics, instrumenta tion, and radiobiology in nuclear medicine. It is mandatory that radiology residents pass the physics section of the American Board of Radiology examination. This book is primarily addressed to this audience. In addition, anyone in terested in the basics of physics, instrumentation, and radiobiology in nuclear medicine should find this book useful.

From first principles to current computer applications, Monte Carlo Calculations in Nuclear Medicine, Second Edition: Applications in Diagnostic Imaging covers the applications of Monte Carlo calculations in nuclear medicine and critically reviews them from a diagnostic perspective. Like the first edition, this book explains the Monte Carlo method

The use of MATLAB® in clinical Medical Physics is continuously increasing, thanks to new technologies and developments in the field. However, there is a lack of practical guidance for students, researchers, and medical professionals on how to incorporate it into their work. Focusing on the areas of diagnostic Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology Imaging, this book provides a comprehensive treatment of the use of MATLAB in clinical Medical Physics, in Nuclear Medicine. It is an invaluable guide for medical physicists and researchers, in addition to postgraduates in medical physics or biomedical engineering, preparing for a career in the field. In the field of Nuclear Medicine, MATLAB enables quantitative analysis and the visualization of nuclear medical images of several modalities, such as Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), or a hybrid system where a Computed Tomography system is incorporated into a SPECT or PET system or similarly, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system (MRI) into a SPECT or PET system. Through a high-performance interactive software, MATLAB also allows matrix computation, simulation, quantitative analysis, image processing, and algorithm implementation. MATLAB can provide medical physicists with the necessary tools for analyzing and visualizing medical images. It is useful in creating imaging algorithms for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, solving problems of image reconstruction, processing, and calculating absorbed doses with accuracy. An important feature of this application of MATLAB is that the results are completely reliable and are not dependent on any specific γ-cameras and workstations. The use of MATLAB algorithms can greatly assist in the exploration of the anatomy and functions of the human body, offering accurate and precise results in Nuclear Medicine studies. KEY FEATURES Presents a practical, case-based approach whilst remaining accessible to students Contains chapter contributions from subject area specialists across the field Includes real clinical problems and examples, with worked through solutions Maria Lyra Georgosopoulou, PhD, is a Medical Physicist and Associate Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Photo credit: The Antikythera Mechanism is the world’s oldest known analog computer. It consisted of many wheels and discs that could be placed onto the mechanism for calculations. It is possible that the first algorithms and analog calculations in mathematics were implemented with this mechanism, invented in the early first centuries BC. It has been selected for the cover to demonstrate the importance of calculations in science.

​ This book will serve as the definitive source of detailed information on radiation, ionization, and detection in nuclear medicine. It opens by considering fundamental aspects of nuclear radiation, including dose and energy, sources, and shielding. Subsequent chapters cover the full range of relevant topics, including the detection and measurement of radiation exposure (with detailed information on mathematical modelling); medical imaging; the different types of radiation detector and their working principles; basic principles of and experimental techniques for deposition of scintillating materials; device fabrication; the optical and electrical behaviors of radiation detectors; and the instrumentation used in nuclear medicine and its application. The book will be an invaluable source of information for academia, industry, practitioners, and researchers.