Advances In Nuclear Oncology

The diagnostic and therapeutic achievements in radiopharmaceuticals and nuclear medicine instrumentation - PET, SPECT, MR, CT and their hypbrids PET-CT and SPECT-CT - are the result of the interdisciplinary research efforts of cell-biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, physicists, computer-scientists, engineers, nuclear medicine physicians, a

This book provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of both the basic principles and the clinical applications of nuclear oncology imaging techniques. The authors have assembled a distinguished group of leaders in the field who provide valuable insight on the subject. The book also includes major chapters on the cancer patient and the pathophysiology of abnormal tissue, the evaluation of co-existing disease, and the diagnosis and therapy of specific tumors using functional imaging studies. Each chapter is heavily illustrated to assist the reader in understanding the clinical role of nuclear oncology in cancer disease therapy and management.

Nearly 20 million nuclear medicine procedures are carried out each year in the United States alone to diagnose and treat cancers, cardiovascular disease, and certain neurological disorders. Many of the advancements in nuclear medicine have been the result of research investments made during the past 50 years where these procedures are now a routine part of clinical care. Although nuclear medicine plays an important role in biomedical research and disease management, its promise is only beginning to be realized. Advancing Nuclear Medicine Through Innovation highlights the exciting emerging opportunities in nuclear medicine, which include assessing the efficacy of new drugs in development, individualizing treatment to the patient, and understanding the biology of human diseases. Health care and pharmaceutical professionals will be most interested in this book's examination of the challenges the field faces and its recommendations for ways to reduce these impediments.

Nuclear Oncology describes the use of radionuclides in the diagnosis and management of malignant tumors. Both in vivo and in vitro techniques are included. The book was written by an international panel of authors, most, if not all, of whom are the pioneers of the techniques described. Their chapters reflect the universal views in the field of nuclear medicine and oncology. Clinical aspects and technical details are presented for both standard and new nuclear oncological techniques, including breast scintigraphy, receptor imaging, monoclonal antibodies and positron emission tomography. This information will therefore be helpful to those dealing with the diagnosis and therapy of cancer using radionuclides, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncologic surgeons, nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists. Attention is devoted to potential areas of clinical research in nuclear oncology. Therapeutic use of radionuclides is emphasized.

This book covers all diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of neuro-oncological diseases. In the last decade, the management of brain tumors has been revolutionized following the new WHO classification and thanks to the introduction of molecular markers into the clinical routine. From an imaging point of view, the continuous technological developments and the implementation of various radiopharmaceuticals have paved the way to new clinical indications and has helped optimize patient management. In this context, a major breakthrough could derive from the introduction of radiomics and artificial intelligence in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway. Not forgetting the emerging role of heavy-ion therapy as a complement to the innovative drugs and treatments adopted in medical oncology and radiation therapy. In the present book, all above-mentioned aspects are covered, starting with the novel standards for the WHO classification of brain tumors, to the up-to-date surgical techniques and advanced therapeutic approaches, passing through the currently available imaging modalities and ongoing developments embracing both radiology and nuclear medicine discipline. Imaging represents indeed the “trait d'union” for all the arguments described in the book; therefore, in most chapters there are dedicated sessions focused on the role of imaging in each specific context. The publication aims to fill the gap between the clinicians and all professionals directly involved in the management of patients with brain tumors and the newest scientific outreach. Moreover, thanks to the comprehensive insight into the latest technological developments, scientists and researchers interested in the topic will find the book a useful tool for future studies and perspective discoveries.

Radioimmunotherapy, also known as systemic targeted radiation therapy, uses antibodies, antibody fragments, or compounds as carriers to guide radiation to the targets. It is a topic rapidly increasing in importance and success in treatment of cancer patients. This book represents a comprehensive amalgamation of the radiation physics, chemistry, radiobiology, tumor models, and clinical data for targeted radionuclide therapy. It outlines the current challenges and provides a glimpse at future directions. With significant advances in cell biology and molecular engineering, many targeting constructs are now available that will safely deliver these highly cytotoxic radionuclides in a targeted fashion. A companion website includes the full text and an image bank.