Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), as any other imaging modality, is acceptable for routine clinical and research applications only if technical pitfalls can be avoided. Artefacts from incorrect or sub-optimal acquisition procedures should be recognized and, if possible, corrected retrospectively and the resulting image information interpreted correctly, which entails an appreciation of variants of the represented image information. This publication provides guidance on the physics and technical aspects behind PET and PET/CT image distortions. Cases are presented to provide nuclear medicine and radiology professionals with an assortment of examples of possible image distortions and errors in order to support a correct image interpretation. Nearly 70 typical PET and PET/CT cases, comprising image sets and cases, have been collected in this volume, all catalogued and augmented with explanations as to the causes of, and solutions to, each individual image problem. The atlas will prove useful to physicists, physicians, technologists, and service engineers in the clinical field.

SPECT/CT Atlas of Quality Control and Image Artefacts

This publication provides guidelines for the implementation of quality assurance and control programs concerning the combined medical diagnostic modality of positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT). These independent, but complementary, imaging techniques are in frequent and increasing use within the fields of diagnostic imaging, oncology, cardiology and neurology, where they allow physicians to locate and diagnose malignant diseases accurately. This publication establishes guidelines for acceptance testing and routine quality control as necessary for optimal clinical performance. Specific topics of discussion include frameworks for reference values, tolerances and action levels, minimal required configurations with corresponding performances characteristics, and the management of ancillary equipment.

This state-of-the-art handbook, the first in a series that provides medical physicists with a comprehensive overview into the field of nuclear medicine, is dedicated to instrumentation and imaging procedures in nuclear medicine. It provides a thorough treatment on the cutting-edge technologies being used within the field, in addition to touching upon the history of their use, their development, and looking ahead to future prospects. 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 Includes the latest practical research in the field, in addition to explaining fundamental theory and the field's history

PET and SPECT imaging has improved to such a level that they are opening up exciting new horizons in medical diagnosis and treatment. This book provides a complete introduction to fundamentals and the latest progress in the field, including an overview of new scintillator materials and innovations in photodetector development, as well as the latest system designs and image reconstruction algorithms. It begins with basics of PET and SPECT physics, followed by technology advances and computing methods, quantitative techniques, multimodality imaging, instrumentation, pre-clinical and clinical imaging applications.

This comprehensive textbook provides a state of the art overview of the means by which quality in patient care is ensured within the field of nuclear medicine. Acknowledged experts in the field cover both management aspects, such as laws, standards, guidelines, patient safety, management instruments, and organisations, and specific issues, including radiation safety and equipment. Quality in Nuclear Medicine not only presents detailed information on the topics discussed but should also stimulate further discussion and offer an important tool to all professionals in the field of nuclear medicine and their stakeholders. Readers will find that the book provides a wealth of excellent guidance and reflects the pioneering role of nuclear medicine in advancing different aspects of quality within medicine.

This publication reviews the current state of the art of image quantification and provides a solid background of tools and methods to medical physicists and other related professionals who are faced with quantification of radionuclide distribution in clinical practice. It describes and analyses the physical effects that degrade image quality and affect the accuracy of quantification, and describes methods to compensate for them in planar, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) images.

Digital image processing can refer to a wide variety of techniques, concepts, and applications of different types of processing for different purposes. This book provides examples of digital image processing applications and presents recent research on processing concepts and techniques. Chapters cover such topics as image processing in medical physics, binarization, video processing, and more.

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 is specifically designed to meet the needs of practicing radiologists by offering a practical, unified approach to PET-CT. It details how to effectively apply PET-CT in patient management. Written by radiologists who fully appreciate and understand both PET and CT, the book details an integrated understanding of PET-CT as a combined modality. Clinical topics include PET-CT of thoracic malignancies, melanoma, and breast cancer. In addition, the book reinforces fundamental concepts, such as the role of imaging diagnosis in disease management.