In the United States the performance of nuclear cardiology studies continues to increase. As an example, in 1998, 4,160,739 myocardial perfusion imaging st- ies were done. In 2001 this number increased to 5,679,258. The nonhospital performance of perfusion imaging increased over the same time period from 1,188,731 to 1,789,207 studies (Arlington Medical Resources data). In 1999, there were approximately 1300 nonhospital sites with nuclear imaging capabi- ties, of which 600 were in physician’s offices. By 2001, there were approximately 1700 nonhospital sites, of which 780 were in physician’s offices (from IMV, LTD: http://www.imvlimited.com/mid/). The growth of nuclear cardiology as an expanded outpatient laboratory ent- prise is readily apparent. In the United States, as well as in other parts of the world, this growth has been linked to the recognition of the ability of cardiologists to perform these studies. The certification examination in nuclear cardiology is now well established in the United States. Accreditation of laboratories is also well established. Over the years, some of the most frequent questions asked by our former trainees relate to practical issues involved in the establishment of a nuclear cardiology laboratory. In view of the growth of the field, this is certainly not surprising.

Part of the renowned The Basics series, Nuclear Medicine Physics helps build foundational knowledge of how and why things happen in the clinical environment. Ideal for board review and reference, the 8th edition provides a practical summary of this complex field, focusing on essential details as well as real-life examples taken from nuclear medicine practice. New full-color illustrations, concise text, essential mathematical equations, key points, review questions, and useful appendices help you quickly master challenging concepts in nuclear medicine physics.

Nuclear cardiac imaging is the diagnostic technique of using radiology and chemical markers to track cardiac performance. These imaging studies provide a wide range of information about the heart, including how much the heart contracts, the amount of blood supply to the heart and whether parts of the heart muscle are alive or dead. This is essential information for cardiologists, and nuclear imaging has become an increasingly important part of the cardiologist's armoury of diagnostic techniques. Iskandrian's text has become a leading book in the field and the fourth edition will continue the tradition. The text is updated throughout to reflect the many advances in the field, and, as a new feature, each chapter concludes with a question and answer session on important and difficult clinical issues.

The purpose of this book is to provide the outline for the "nuts and bolts" establishment and operation of a nuclear cardiology laboratory. In so doing, the authors have attempted to deal with the relevant issues that a laboratory director must address in either setting up the laboratory or maintaining its competitive edge and clinical competence over time. The authors primarily attempted to identify issues related to outpatient imaging facilities. However, where appropriate issues related to inpatients in hospital-based laboratories are also discussed.

Drs. Vitola and Delbeke assembled a group of standout contributors in order to create a resource that advances the knowledge and skills of experienced nuclear cardiologists and radiologists while also preparing residents for the cutting-edge field of nuclear cardiology. Diagnostic tools, physics and instrumentation, and radiopharmaceuticals and protocols central to the field are examined. The comprehensive text covers key applications of myocardial perfusion imaging, including applications in special populations and in emergency departments. Risk assessment, pitfalls, and artefacts are addressed. Additional chapters detail the value of cardiac MRI, multislice computed tomography, stress echocardiography, and PET and PET/CT to nuclear cardiology. Practical case presentations and a wealth of illustrations reinforce instruction on diagnostic guidelines and methods.

Cardiac SPECT Imaging, Second Edition offers the best of all possible worlds--a critical topic, internationally recognized authors and cutting-edge coverage. It guides you through all aspects of the modality--from basic principles (acquiring and processing images, quality control)...and clinical applications (evaluating myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease)...to the very latest equipment. It even compares SPECT with other modalities (PET, CT, MRI, and echocardiography) to ensure smart, cost-effective decisions by both the cardiologist and nuclear medicine physician.Look for new chapters on attenuation correction, gated perfusion SPECT, radiopharmaceuticals, and myocardial perfusion SPECT, as well as the very latest on myocardial perfusion SPECT in conjunction with exercise and pharmacologic stress, assessment of perfusion/viability with Tc-99m agents, how SPECT compares with other advanced cardiac imaging modalities, and more!

Recent years have seen numerous advances in cardiovascular nuclear medicine technology, leading to more precise diagnoses and treatment and an expanded understanding of the molecular basis for cardiac disease. Nuclear Cardiology and Multimodal Cardiovascular Imaging is a one-stop, comprehensive guide to the diagnostic and clinical implications of this complex and increasingly important technology. Part of the Braunwald family of renowned cardiology references, it provides cutting-edge coverage of multimodal cardiac imaging along with case vignettes and integrated teaching content—ideal for cardiologists, cardiology fellows, radiologists, and nuclear medicine physicians. - Features all the latest cardiovascular nuclear medicine studies with practical, evidence-based implications for personalized patient evaluation and treatment. - Presents a consistent, patient-centered approach using integrated case vignettes correlated with specific nuclear medicine imaging findings. Discusses patient assessment criteria, risk factor criteria, pathology, evaluation criteria, outcomes, and other clinical implications. - Covers a full range of imaging technologies, including SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and CT/MR hybrid radionuclide cardiovascular imaging studies. - Addresses emerging clinical applications of nuclear imaging techniques for precision-based medicine, including targeted molecular imaging and cell therapies. - Includes sections on instrumentation/principles of imaging; protocols and interpretation; applications in coronary artery disease, special populations, and heart failure; artificial intelligence, and more. - Contains guidelines and appropriate use documents to provide appropriate context for clinicians. - Features hundreds of high-quality figures including multimodal cardiac imaging studies, anatomic illustrations, and graphs. - Provides Key Point summaries, 50 procedural videos, and 100 multiple-choice questions and answers to reinforce understanding and facilitate review. - Enhanced eBook version included with purchase, which allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices

This book, now in its third edition, aims to promote a deeper understanding of the scientific and clinical basis of nuclear medicine and the new directions in medical imaging. The new edition has been revised and updated to reflect recent changes and to ensure that the contents are in line with likely future directions. The book starts by providing essential information on general pathophysiology, cell structure and cell biology as well as the mechanisms of radiopharmaceutical localization in different tissues and cells. The clinical applications of nuclear medicine are then presented in a series of chapters that cover every major organ system and relate the basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology to the clinical utilization of various scintigraphic modalities. The therapeutic applications of nuclear medicine are discussed in a separate chapter, and the final chapter is devoted to the biologic effects of ionizing radiations, including radiation from medical procedures.

Essential Nuclear Medicine Physics provides an excellent introduction to the basic concepts of the daunting area of nuclear physics. Logically structured and clearly written, this is the book of choice for anyone entering the field of nuclear medicine, including nuclear medicine residents and fellows, cardiac nuclear medicine fellows and nuclear medicine technology students. The text is also a handy quick-reference guide for those already working in the field of nuclear physics. This new edition provides a basic introduction to nuclear physics and the interactions of radiation and matter. The authors also provide comprehensive coverage of instrumentation and imaging, with separate chapters devoted to SPECT, PET, and PET/CT. Discussion of radiation biology, radiation safety and care of victims of radiation accidents completes the text, with an appendix containing the latest NRC rules and regulations. Essential Nuclear Medicine Physics presents difficult concepts clearly and concisely, defines all terminology for the reader, and facilitates learning through extensive illustrations and self-assessment questions.