Cover -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- CHAPTER 1: Basic Nuclear Medicine Physics -- Properties and structure of matter -- Elements -- Atomic structure -- Radioactivity -- The unstable nucleus and radioactive decay -- Decay notation -- Half-life -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 2: Interaction of Radiation with Matter -- Interaction of photons with matter -- Types of photon interactions in matter -- Attenuation of photons in matter -- Interaction of charged particles with matter -- Excitation -- Ionization -- Annihilation -- Bremsstrahlung -- Reference -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 3: Formation of Radionuclides -- Generators -- Activity curves for generators -- Cyclotrons -- Reactors -- Reactor basics -- Fission -- Neutron capture -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 4: Nonscintillation Detectors -- Gas-filled detectors -- Theory of operation -- Principles of measurement -- Characteristics of the major regions of applied voltage across a gas-filled detector -- Sensitivity -- Types of gas-filled detectors -- Semiconductor detectors -- Photographic and luminescent detectors -- Photographic detectors -- Thermoluminescent and optically luminescent detectors -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 5: Scintillation Detectors -- Structure -- Scintillation crystals -- Photomultiplier tubes -- Preamplifiers and amplifiers -- Pulse-height analyzer -- The energy spectrum from a sodium iodide detector -- Photopeak -- Other peaks in the energy spectrum of the source -- Effect of surrounding matter on the energy spectrum -- Characteristics of scintillation detectors -- Energy resolution -- Decay time -- Efficiency -- Types of scintillation-based detectors -- Thyroid probe -- Well counter -- Dosimeters and area monitors -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 6: Imaging Instrumentation -- Theory and structure.

Components of the imaging system -- Planar imaging -- Image acquisition -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 7: Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography -- Equipment -- Types of cameras -- Angle of rotation of heads -- Two-headed cameras: fixed and adjustable -- Acquisition -- Arc of acquisition -- Number of projection tomographic views -- Collection times -- Step-and-Shoot vs. Continuous Acquisition -- Circular, elliptical, and body-contouring orbits -- Patient motion and sinograms -- Dedicated cardiac SPECT cameras -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 8: Positron Emission Tomography -- Advantages of PET imaging -- Sensitivity -- Resolution -- Radiopharmaceuticals -- PET camera components -- Crystals -- Photomultiplier tubes -- Pulse-height analyzers, timing discriminators, and coincidence circuits -- Septa -- Factors affecting resolution in PET imaging -- Positron range in tissue -- Photon emissions occurring at other Than 180° -- Parallax error -- Attenuation in PET imaging -- Attenuation correction -- Standard uptake values -- References -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 9: X-ray Computed Tomography -- X-ray production -- X-ray imaging -- Computed tomography -- Overview -- Multislice detector configurations -- Axial and helical scanning -- Hounsfield units -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 10: Hybrid Imaging Systems: PET-CT and SPECT-CT -- PET-CT -- SPECT-CT -- Current limitations of hybrid imaging -- Breathing artifacts -- Contrast agent artifacts -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 11: Image Reconstruction, Processing, and Display -- Reconstruction -- Filtered backprojection -- Iterative reconstruction -- Postreconstruction image processing -- Multiplanar reformatting -- Advanced display techniques -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 12: Information Technology -- Network -- DICOM -- PACS -- Information systems -- Additional DICOM capabilities.

Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 13: Quality Control -- Nonimaging devices -- Dose calibrator -- Survey meters -- Crystal scintillation detectors: well counters and thyroid probes -- Imaging devices -- Planar gamma camera -- SPECT -- PET -- CT -- CT phantoms -- Hybrid system testing -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 14: Radiation Biology -- Radiation units -- Radiation Absorbed Dose (rad) -- Roentgen equivalent man (rem) -- The effects of radiation on living organisms -- Cellular effects -- Tissue effects -- Heritable and cancer effects -- References -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 15: Radiation Dosimetry -- Nuclear medicine dosimetry -- Physical, biological, and effective half-lives -- Calculation of organ doses -- Effective dose -- CT dosimetry -- Absorbed dose in CT -- Estimation of relative risk: effective dose -- References -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 16: Radiation Safety -- Rationale -- Dose limits -- Occupational exposure -- Hospital workers -- Exposure for the general public -- Methods for limiting exposure -- Limiting occupational exposure -- Limiting exposure of patients -- Limiting exposure of family members and the public -- Regulations -- References -- Questions -- Answers -- CHAPTER 17: Management of Nuclear Event Casualties -- Interaction of radiation with tissue -- Alpha particles -- Beta particles -- Gamma rays and X-rays -- Neutrons -- Radionuclides -- Hospital response to a radiation accident -- Exposure and contamination -- Hospital facilities -- Decontamination facility -- Treatment/Decontamination room for seriously wounded individuals -- External decontamination -- Patient radiation survey -- Survey meter -- Personnel -- Personal protection -- Reducing exposure -- Dosimeters -- Evaluation of radiation accident victim -- Early estimation of whole body radiation exposure -- Early estimation of local radiation exposure.

Acute radiation sickness -- Acute radiation syndromes -- Treatment of acute radiation sickness -- Treatment of internal contamination -- Local radiation injury to the skin -- References -- Questions -- Answers -- APPENDIX A: Common Nuclides -- APPENDIX B: Major Dosimetry for Common Radiopharmaceuticals -- APPENDIX C: Sample Calculations of the S Value -- Example 1 -- Example 2 -- Reference -- APPENDIX D: Guide to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Publications -- Title 10, "Energy," Code of Federal Regulations (10CFR) -- NUREG-1556, Vol. 9, Revision 2, Consolidated Guidance About Materials Licenses -- References -- APPENDIX E: Recommended Reading by Topic -- Index.