The need for this book arose from my teaching, engineering, and - search experience in the non-power aspects of nuclear technology. The lack of a comprehensive textbook in industrial applications of radiation frustrated my students, who had to resort to a multitude of textbooks and research publications to familiarize themselves with the fundam- tal and practical aspects of radiation technology. As an engineer, I had to acquire the design aspects of radiation devices by trial-and-error, and often by accidental reading of a precious publication. As a researcher and a supervisor of graduate students, I found that the needed literature was either hard to find, or too scattered and diverse. More than once, I discovered that what appeared to be an exciting new idea was an old concept that was tried a few decades earlier during the golden era of “Atom for Peace”. I am hoping, therefore, that this book will serve as a single comprehensive reference source in a growing field that I expect will continue to expand. This book is directed to both neophytes and experts, and is written to combine the old and the new, the basic and the advanced, the simple and the complex. It is anticipated that this book will be of help in - viving older concepts, improving and expanding existing techniques and promoting the development of new ones.

This book is designed to give the reader a solid understanding of the physics and instrumentation aspects of PET, including how PET data are collected and formed into an image. Topics include basic physics, detector technology used in modern PET scanners, data acquisition, and 3D reconstruction. A variety of modern PET imaging systems are also discussed, including those designed for clinical services and research, as well as small-animal imaging. Methods for evaluating the performance of these systems are also outlined. The book will interest nuclear medicine students, nuclear medicine physicians, and technologists.

Ionizing Radiation Detectors for Medical Imaging contains ten technical chapters, half of which are devoted to radiology and the other half to nuclear medicine. The last chapter describes the detectors for radiotherapy and portal imaging. Each chapter addresses completely a specific application. The emphasis is always on detector fundamentals and detector properties. Where necessary, software and specific applications are described in depth.This book is intended for graduate and undergraduate students in physics and engineering who want to study medical imaging. In addition, scientists who are working in a specific sub-field of medical imaging can acquire from the book an up-to-date description of the state of the art in related sub-fields, within the scope of ionizing radiation detectors. Other scientists, as well as physicians, can use the book as a reference for medical imaging.

In compiling this textbook on the exciting novel imaging modality of PET/MRI, the editors have brought together a truly international group of experts in the field. The book is divided into two parts. The first part covers methodology and equipment and includes chapters on basic molecular medicine, contrast agents, MR attenuation and validation, and quantitative MRI and PET motion correction. The second part of the book focuses on clinical applications in oncology, cardiology, and neurology. Imaging of major neoplasms is covered in a series of individual chapters. Further chapters address functional and metabolic cardiovascular examinations and major central nervous system applications such as brain tumors and dementias. This book will be of interest to all radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians who wish to learn more about the latest developments in this important emerging imaging modality and its applications.