Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging by Fred A. Mettler Jr. and Milton J. Guiberteau, 5th ed.
Elsevier Science, St. Louis, 2006, $95
Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging is an excellent reference book for students, technologists, and physicians.
The contents are outlined at the beginning of each chapter, providing easy reference to specific information. Each chapter has a section at the end called "Pearls and Pitfalls," which offers interesting and useful information, enhancing the content of the chapter. The suggested reading for each chapter is a relevant and handy reference.
The text is well written and organized in a logical way with plenty of complementary images. The first three chapters cover most aspects of pharmaceuticals, instrumentation, and quality control. Chapter one is an excellent review of common isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals as well as the characteristics of radioactive decay.
The second chapter is an excellent review of the instrumentation used in a nuclear medicine lab from gamma cameras to thyroid probes. The quality control chapter provides a superior source of information on the importance of a good quality control program in nuclear medicine. The supporting images offer outstanding examples of the pitfalls of poor quality control as well as how to assess and deal with equipment problems.
The remaining chapters are organized by organ systems and tackle the details of imaging each particular organ. Techniques, as well anatomy and physiology, clinical application, and radiopharmaceutical distribution, are discussed. Normal and abnormal scans are discussed in detail and the text is augmented with imaging examples. X-ray, CT, and MRI scans are used when appropriate. Chapter 13 delves into PET imaging in detail.
Essentials of Nuclear Medicine Imaging is a superlative, well rounded text for the nuclear medicine practitioner. It offers plenty of examples of imaging techniques and several useful tables in the appendix. This is wonderful text that should be made available in all nuclear medicine departments.
By Ray Deininger
AuntMinnie.com contributing writer
March 28, 2006
Ray Deininger, CNMT, is a 25-year nuclear medicine veteran. He has practiced clinical nuclear medicine at several hospitals, worked for several equipment vendors, and owned his own nuclear medicine software company. He presently works for a hospital and consults for a major equipment vendor in Tucson, AZ.
The opinions expressed in this review are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AuntMinnie.com.
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