Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation

J. Prekeges

Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett, 2013, 376 pages, $105.95

This soft-cover textbook on nuclear instrumentation was written for an audience of nuclear medicine technology students, medical imaging technologists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, medical imaging residents, biomedical engineers, and any individual interested in gaining an understanding of the topic. According to the author, the purpose of this book is to address a significant deficit of available resources for those seeking a dedicated textbook on the subject matter. This textbook is in its second edition and is presented as 19 chapters and 6 supporting appendices. The chapters are divided into 4 distinct parts that help the reader understand small instruments, γ-cameras, SPECT, and PET. The chapter on PET includes a discussion on CT and an introduction to MR imaging.

The content of the book begins with introductions to gas-filled detectors, scintillation detectors, semiconductors, and factors relating to radiation measurement. The second part addresses the specifics of γ-cameras, including image digitization and display, collimators, image characteristics, performance measures in planar imaging, and quality assurance and quality control of γ-cameras. The third part covers the details of SPECT, including image characteristics, the effect of acquisition parameters on SPECT imaging, how to improve SPECT images, and quality control and artifacts in SPECT. The fourth part focuses on PET, including instrumentation, image characteristics, performance measures and quantification, and quality control and artifacts, and concludes with CT and MR imaging. The appendices include atomic structure and interactions of high-energy radiation, basic electronics and devices, film and film processing, computer fundamentals, collimator mathematics, and laboratory accreditation. The author writes in a clear and concise fashion and assumes the reader has little or no background on nuclear medicine instrumentation. The textbook has sample calculations, tables, charts, images, and diagrams throughout, which complement the text and enable the reader to have a more comprehensive understanding of the written material. I applaud the author for including information on semiconductors, CT, and MR imaging. Unfortunately, there are limitations on the CT and MR imaging content due to the book’s focus on nuclear medicine instrumentation. The CT and MR imaging sections are more or less an introduction to these imaging modalities. I would encourage readers seeking comprehensive information on CT and MR imaging to search for other dedicated instrumentation textbooks on these subjects.

I would highly recommend this textbook for anyone who is interested in teaching or learning more about nuclear medicine instrumentation. It is a welcomed addition for any medical imaging library. Readers will find it interesting and worthwhile. I have used this book since the release of the first edition in 2011 for my course in nuclear medicine instrumentation. It has replaced 3 textbooks and many handouts that I once used to teach the class. Students are always tough critics concerning textbooks, but this book has received nothing but positive comments from my students. I also provide instruction to radiology residents, and they find the book useful as well. The author has successfully written and updated a textbook that will become a mainstay in nuclear medicine–related educational programs. This textbook clearly demonstrates why experienced nuclear medicine technology program directors should consider taking the time to enhance the profession by authoring textbooks that will benefit everyone.