The most salient feature of the infor­ last four chapters of the book evaluate the mation provided by nuclear medicine is its information from an analytical and pathophysiological and functional charac­ statistical point of view. This approach is ter. For adequate experimental or clinical required for correct decision-making. interpretation, such information should This book is therefore the result of necessarily be interpreted alongside the accumulated experience in nuclear cardiology views of the clinical cardiologist, who is with the invaluable cooperation of medical able to apply it to the individual patient. statisticians. It is directed to physicians This approach, which is routine in every­ with an interest in nuclear cardiology, to day clinical practice, reaches its plenitude nuclear medicine specialists wishing to when the whole process is completed and learn the uses and limitations of these an intimate cooperation is established procedures in everyday clinical cardiology, between the nuclear medicine specialist and to cardiologists who feel the need to and the clinical cardiologist. In such understand the rationale and methodology instances, each one of these professionals of the studies which benefit their patients. understands the needs, limits and possi­ We understand that the ultimate reason bilities of the other. for any scientific book is the transmission The present book is the fruit of such of knowledge, and we are fully conscious cooperation. In our hospital, an efficient of the enthusiasm of the authors of the nuclear cardiology team has been made up present text to achieve that aim.

Inhalt

Foreword; F.M. Domènech-Torné, J. Soler-Soler. Preface; P. Ell. Introduction; J. Candell-Riera, D. Ortega-Alcalde. 1. Physicochemical and technical fundamentals; P. Galofré-Mora. 2. Image processing; D. Ortega-Alcalde. 3. Stress testing; J. Candell-Riera. 4. Myocardial perfusion studies; D. Ortega-Alcalde. 5. Methods for quantifying myocardial perfusion; J. Castell-Conesa. 6. Studies of myocardial damage and viability; M. Fraile. 7. First-pass radionuclide ventriculography; S. Aguadé-Bruix. 8. Gated blood-pool radionuclide ventriculography; D. Ortega-Alcalde. 9. Ventricular volume measurement; J. Castell-Conesa. 10. Parametric images and Fourier's analysis; D. Ortega-Alcalde. 11. Diagnosis of coronary artery disease; J. Candell-Riera. 12. Prognostic evaluation and follow-up of chronic coronary artery disease; J. Candell-Riera. 13. Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction; J. Cortadellas-Angel. 14. Prognostic evaluation after acute myocardial infarction; A. Rius-Daví. 15. Congenital heart disease; E. Galve. 16. Valvular heart disease; M.P. Tornos-Mas. 17. Cardiomyopathies; J. Candell-Riera. 18. Methods for diagnostic evaluation; J. Rosselló-Urgell. 19. The probability of a correct diagnosis; M. Olona-Cabases. 20. Uses of multiple logistic regression; J. Vagué-Rafart. 21. Cost analysis and decision trees; B.Bermejo-Fraile. Index.