This unparalleled text on the basics of PET imaging technology is an ideal resource for technologists and residents preparing for board examinations. Written by noted author Gopal B. Saha, Ph.D., the book also serves as a useful reference for practicing nuclear medicine professionals. Chapters are concise but comprehensive and emphasize the fundamentals, including physics, instrumentation and data acquisition, image reconstruction, production of PET radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, and regulatory and reimbursement issues. To maximize understanding, topics are complete with assessment questions, reviews of pertinent basic science, and lists of suggested reading. Helpful illustrations reinforce key concepts. A wealth of valuable data is presented in practical tables and appendixes as well. The remarkable combination of brevity and clarity of content makes it an ideal text and reference book for nuclear medicine professionals interested in basics of PET imaging.

Zusammenfassung
From the early 1970s to mid-1990s, positron emission tomography (PET) as a diagnostic imaging modality had been for the most part used in ex- 82 perimental research. Clinical PET started only a decade ago. Rb-RbCl and 18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose were approved by the U. S. Food and Drug adm- istration in 1989 and 1994, respectively, for clinical PET imaging. Reim- 82 bursement by Medicare was approved in 1995 for Rb-PET myocardial 18 perfusion imaging and for F-FDG PET for various oncologic indi- tions in 1999. Currently several more PET procedures are covered for reimbursement. Based on the incentive from reimbursement for PET procedures and accurate and effective diagnosis of various diseases, PET centers are growing in the United States and worldwide. The importance of PET imaging has ?ourished to such a large extent that the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certi?cation Board (NMTCB) is planning to introduce a PET specialty examination in 2004 for nuclear medicine technologists,as well as an augmented version of the PET specialty examination in 2005 for reg- tered radiographers and radiation therapy technologists. Courses are being offered all over the country to train physicians and technologists in PET technology. Many books on clinical PET have appeared in the market, but no book on the basics of PET imaging is presently available. Obviously, such a book is needed to ful?ll the requirements of these courses and certi?cations.

Inhalt
Radioactive Decay and Interaction of Radiation with Matter.- PET Scanning Systems.- Data Acquisition and Corrections.- Image Reconstruction, Storage, and Display.- Performance Characteristics of PET Scanners.- Cyclotron and Production of PET Radionuclides.- Synthesis of PET Radiopharmaceuticals.- Regulations Governing PET Radiopharmaceuticals.- Reimbursement for PET Procedures.- Design and Cost of PET Center.- Procedures for PET Studies.