The field of nuclear medicine is undergoing rapid expansion, and is evolving into diagnostic molecular imaging. During recent years, dual-modality imaging with PET/CT has gained acceptance and this is currently the fastest-growing technique for oncological imaging applications. The glucose analogue FDG has held its place in diagnostic oncology, assessment of myocardial viability and diagnosis of neuro-degenerative disorders. Peptides have become even more important as imaging agents. The accuracy of hepatobiliary scintigraphy has been enhanced by cholecystokinin. The use of ACE inhibitors in the evaluation of renovascular hypertension has become the standard in renography. New instrumentation has led to faster scanners, and computer development to better image processing software. Automatic processing is more common, and standardization of protocols can be accomplished easily. The field of gene imaging has progressed, although routine clinical applications are not yet available. The present text, supplemented with many detailed and informative illustrations, represents an adjunct to the standard knowledge of diagnostic nuclear medicine and provides both the student and the professional with an overview of developments during the past decade.

From the contents:<br />Introduction

Clinical Applications: Neurochemical Imaging with Emission Tomography: Clinical Applications.-Assessment of Myocardial Viability by Radionuclide Techniques.-Thromboembolism Imaging
Renal Imaging
Skeletal Scintigraphy
Imaging Infection and Inflammation.-Gastrointestinal Nuclear Medicine
Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy.-Peptide Imaging.-Molecular Imaging with PET in Oncology
PET/CT in Lung and Head and Neck Cancer.-PET/CT in Clinical Oncology
Pediatric Nuclear Medicine - A Coming of Age.-Basics of Scintigraphic Imaging: Radiopharmaceuticals: Recent Developments and Trends
Instrumentation and Data Acquisition
Image Formation
Future Outlook: Imaging of Gene Expression: Concepts and Future Outlook
Quo Vadis?
Glossary
Subject Index
List of Contributors