Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography

It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest satisfied with the degree of precision which the nature of the subject admits, and not to seek exactness where only an approximation of the truth is possible. Aristotle With the development of imaging techniques, the in vivo study of human anatomy and physiology has become possible with increasing "approximation of the truth. " Advances have been made not only in data acquisition, but also in processing as well as visualization of functional and morphological data. Following the successful application of planar two-dimensional imaging approaches, more recently three-dimensional data acquisition and correspond ing tomographic image reconstruction has become possible. With the rapid growth of computer support, advanced processing allows for user-friendly interaction with complex data sets. Classical x-ray imaging techniques have matured to excellent spatial resolution and contrast, which provide specific delineation of anatomical changes occurring in cardiovascular disease. In parallel, the use of tracer principles supported the successful introduction of nuclear medicine procedures for the functional characterization of physiology and pathophysiology. The application of such techniques were initially limited by relatively poor spatial resolution, but excelled in high sensitivity 30 years, scintigraphic imaging emerged from and specificity. In the last rectilinear scanning to planar gamma camera imaging and single-photon xvi Preface emISSIOn tomography (SPECT). Based on these advances and the experi mental success of autoradiography, the potential of scintigraphy as a clinical and research tool has been well appreciated.

This book presents the most up-to-date information on the practice of cardiac PET and hybrid PET/CT. Each chapter takes a step-by-step approach, from basic principles of instrumentation, imaging, and protocols to advanced discussions of current and future clinical applications. Coverage also includes a perspective on other emerging imaging modalities, such as MRI, and the relative role of each. In addition, the volume details the technical aspects of cardiac PET and PET/CT imaging. A library of original cases completes the text by illustrating interpretation and technical challenges in cardiac PET and hybrid PET/CT.

​This work is devoted to understanding the recent advances in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging technologies along with their application to integrated medical therapy and future drug development. This anthology is based on the international symposium in 2015 entitled “Perspective on Nuclear Medicine for Molecular Diagnosis and Integrated Therapy. “The symposium provided an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to promote nuclear medicine technology and how to extend the technology to medical therapy and drug development, and was also a good opportunity to discuss the future perspective of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging by worldwide leaders in the field. Molecular imaging technologies have been rapidly developed worldwide in recent years. Among those developments, nuclear medicine has come to play an important role in quantitative analysis of biological process in vivo as well as in wide clinical use. With the current progress of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, this modality has been applied for treatment monitoring and predicting its outcome with the use of optimal imaging biomarkers and suitable quantitative analysis. Truly, a new era has arrived with clinical use of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for personalized medicine. This volume will benefit a wide variety of researchers in life science including those working in drug development, molecular imaging, and medical therapy as well as physicians who utilize diagnostic imaging.

Organised along an organ and systems basis, this comprehensive reference source covers all diagnostic and interventional imaging techniques and modalities in an integrated, correlative fashion.

This careful revision keeps pace with developments in the field, with new chapters on PET Metabolism, CT and MRI in the Emergency Department, Image-Guided Electrophysiology Mapping and Ablation, and Identification of Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque by Radionuclide and CT techniques, plus the introduction of new contributors Udo Hoffman and Stephan Achenbach. Praised in its previous edition as a concise source of essential information, this new edition presents the most recent information in an accessible format and serves as an excellent reference source for all cardiologists, radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.