Clinical PET

During the past decade Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has turned from a highly sophisticated tool developed for basic research in neurology and cardiology into an advanced nuclear medicine imaging technique ready for routine use. Along with remarkable technical improvements, an overwhelming number of PET studies has been published covering not only scientific but also relevant clinical problems. Due to this rapid development, comprehensive information about the current status of 'clinical' PET is lacking. In this book the applications of PET in neurology, cardiology and oncology are discussed in separate sections. In each section, following an introduction reviewing the present clinical demands, special diagnostic problems and their possible solution by PET are addressed. Results of conventional scintigraphic techniques are also mentioned, and compared with PET. In the last section, technical aspects (e.g. instrumentation, software) are presented, including statements of representatives of leading manufacturers in the field. Clinical PET provides a critical overview of relevant applications of PET for all those who are starting to run a PET facility or are planning to do so. The book is also dedicated to interested clinicians who are willing to utilize the diagnostic potential of PET.

One: PET in Cardiology -- 1. PET in Cardiology -- Clinical background -- 2. Assessment of myocardial perfusion by PET -- 3. Assessment of myocardial viability with PET -- Two: PET in Oncology -- 4. PET in oncology -- Clinical demands -- 5. Assessment of gastrointestinal tumors with PET -- 6. Positron emission tomography in diagnosing lung tumors -- 7. Assessment of hematological malignancies with PET -- 8. Whole body positron emission tomography in oncology -- Three: PET in Neurology -- 9. PET in neurology -- Clinical problems -- 10. Assessment of brain tumors, cerebrovascular and cerebral degenerative diseases with PET -- 11. Positron emission tomography in partial epilepsy -- Four: Technical requirements of a clinical PET-center -- 12. Technical requirements of a clinical PET center: Instrumentation and personnel -- 13. Technical requirements of a clinical PET center: Data acquisition and processing -- 14. Clinical PET: Technological issues -- 15. New developments in PET technology.