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I.N.Beckman

Radiation and nuclear medicine: physical and chemical aspects

ISBN 978-5-905722-40-0

A text-book series in Postgraduate Education

About the author:

Dr. habil. Beckman Igor Nikolaevich – professor at the Department of Radiochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia); recipient of “MSU Distinguished Professor” award.

Editors: Beckman E.M., Polonskaja-Booslaeva O.A.

Annotation and ToC translated by: Dr. V.Deineko

Radiation and nuclear medicine: physical and chemical aspects” is the seventh issue in popular “Radiochemistry” text-book series, authored by prof. I.Beckman. This volume is dedicated to clinical applications of ionizing radiation and radionuclides. The author describes their usage in modern diagnostics, surgery and therapy and provides numerous practical examples to the reader. Part I describes the phenomenon of radioactivity, nuclear reactions, interactions of ionizing radiation with matter and biological effects of radiation. Current national and international radiation safety guidelines and sanitary standards are provided. Part II of the text-book is dedicated to methods of radiation diagnostics (planar X-ray imaging and CT scans) and therapy (X-ray-, g-, and hadron therapy; radiosurgery, brachytherapy). Part III contains essential information on radionuclide diagnostics and therapy. The author describes the theoretical foundations, equipment and applications of scintigraphy, radioimmunoassays, single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography and kinetic methods. Methods and equipment for production of short-lived radioisotopes, as well as synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals are all outlined in the concluding chapters of present volume. The author describes techniques which are currently employed in radiation and nuclear medicine as well as their applications in diagnostics and therapy of malignant tumors.

The volume has been written as an accompanying text-book for post-graduate students, taking advanced courses in chemistry and physics. However, it can be used a reference book by researchers working with radiation and by everyone who is interested in ionizing radiation, radioisotopes and their medical applications.

Brief Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

  1. History of nuclear medicine

  2. Atomic nucleus and nuclear processes

  3. Ionizing radiation

  4. Measurement of ionizing radiation

  5. Radiation safety and radiation dose

  6. Biological effects of ionizing radiation

  7. X-ray diagnostics

  8. X-ray computed tomography (CT scan)

  9. Radiotherapy

  10. Radiosurgery

  11. Sealed-source radiotherapy (brachytherapy)

  12. Particle radiotherapy

  13. Scintigraphy

  14. Radioimmunoassay (RIA)

  15. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

  16. Positron emission tomography (PET)

  17. Radionuclides in therapy

  18. Production of radionuclides

  19. Synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals

Conclusions

Further Reading

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction

1. History of nuclear medicine

1.1. Ionizing radiation

1.2. Biological effects of ionizing radiation

1.3. X-ray diagnostics

1.4. Radiation therapy

1.5. Radionuclide diagnostics and therapy

2. Atomic nucleus and nuclear processes

2.1. Atom and atomic nucleus

2.2. Radioctivity

2.3. Various modes of radioactive decay

2.4. Nuclear reactions

3. Ionizing radiation

3.1. Types of ionizing radiation

3.2. Interaction of ionizing radiation with matter

3.3. Interaction of ionizing radiation with living organisms

4. Measurement of ionizing radiation

4.1. Detectors of ionizing radiation

4.2. Gamma spectroscopy

4.3. Detectors and equipment for imaging of radiation fields

4.3.1. Fluorescent screens for fluoroscopic viewing (fluoroscopy)

4.3.2. Photofilms for X-ray imaging

4.3.3. Fiber and nanocrystalline detectors

4.3.4. Detectors for digital projection X-ray imaging

4.3.5. Scintillation xenon-filled detectors with peak-sensing

4.3.6. Gamma-detectors

5. Radiation safety and radiation dose

5.1. Physical and biological dose of ionizing radiation

5.2. External dose

5.3. Equivalent internal dose

5.4. Radiation safety standards and sanitary rules

6. Biological effects of ionizing radiation

6.1. Radiation and biomacromolecules

6.2. Impact of radiation on cells and tissues. Radiosensitivity.

6.3. Ionizing radiation and living organisms

6.4. Managing the radiobiological effect

7. X-ray diagnostics

7.1. Modern methods of X-ray diagnostics

7.2. Projectional radiography

7.3. Equipment for X-ray diagnostics

7.4. Radiographic images

7.5. Mathematical foundations of transmission radiography

7.6. How to interpret an X-ray image

7.7. Irradiation dose during X-ray diagnostics

7.8. Applications of X-ray diagnostics

8. X-ray computed tomography (CT scan)

8.1. Principles of computed tomography

8.2. CT scan machines

8.3. Image processing

8.4. How to interpret results of X-ray tomography

8.5. Contrast agents in X-ray tomography

8.6. Medical applications of X-ray computed tomography

9. Radiotherapy

9.1. Basics of radiotherapy

9.2. X-ray and gamma therapy

9.3. Photon capture therapy

9.4. Clinical applications of radiotherapy

9.5. Irradiation dosimetry for X-ray and gamma therapy

10. Radiosurgery

11. Sealed-source radiotherapy (brachytherapy)

11.1. Principles of brachytherapy

11.2. Intracavitary radiotherapy

11.3. Interstitial radiotherapy

11.4. Surface brachytherapy

12. Particle radiotherapy

12.1. Electron therapy

12.2. Proton therapy

12.3. Meson therapy

12.4. Heavy-ion therapy

12.5. Neutron therapy

12.5.1. Fast-neutron radiotherapy

12.5.2. Neutron capture therapy

13. Scintigraphy

13.1. Key features of radionuclide diagnostic tests

13.2. Scanning

13.3. Static scintigraphy

13.4. Dynamic scintigraphy

13.5. Pharmacokinetics

13.6. Isotopes and radiopharmaceuticals for radionuclide diagnostics

13.7. Clinical applications of radiopharmaceuticals

14. Radioimmunoassay (RIA)

15. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

15.1. Emission tomography

15.2. Principles of SPECT

15.3. Radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals for SPECT

15.4. Equipment and methods

15.5. Processing and interpreting of SPECT data

15.6. SPECT in clinical practice

16. Positron emission tomography (PET)

16.1. Principles of two-photon emission tomography

16.2. PET scanners

16.3. Radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals

16.4. Processing and interpreting PET data

16.5. Kinetic studies

16.6. Clinical applications of positron emission tomography

17. Radionuclides in therapy

17.1. Methods of radionuclide therapy

17.2. Radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals

17.3. a-emitting radionuclides

17.4. b-emitting radionuclides

17.5. Radionuclides that emit Auger electrons

17.6. Nanoparticle-immobilized radionuclides

17.7. Radioimmune therapy

17.8. Clinical applications of radiotherapy

17.9. Dosimetry and radiation safety

18. Production of radionuclides

18.1. Production of isotopes in nuclear reactors

18.2. Laboratory-scale generators

18.3. Production of a-emitting radionuclides

18.4. Production of b- and g-emitting radionuclides

19. Synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals

19.1. Radiopharmaceuticals for scintigraphy, SPECT and radioimmunoassay

19.2. Radiopharmaceuticals for positron emission tomography

19.3. Radiopharmaceuticals for radionuclide therapy

Conclusions

Further reading