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Radiation-Based Medical Imaging Techniques: An Overview

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Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging

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Abstract

This chapter will present an overview of two radiation-based medical imaging techniques using radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine/molecular imaging, namely, single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET). The relative merits in terms of radiation sensitivity and image resolution of SPECT and PET will be compared to the main conventional radiologic modalities that are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Differences in terms of temporal resolution will also be outlined, as well as the other similarities and dissimilarities of these two techniques, including their latest and upcoming multimodality combination. The main clinical applications are briefly described, and examples of specific SPECT and PET radiopharmaceuticals are listed. SPECT and PET imaging will be then further detailed in the two subsequent chapters describing in greater depth the basics and future trends of each technique (see Chaps. 41, “SPECT Imaging: Basics and New Trends,” and 42, “PET Imaging: Basic and New Trends”).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    John O. Prior

  2. CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

    Paul Lecoq

Authors
  1. John O. Prior
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  2. Paul Lecoq
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Correspondence to John O. Prior .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Particle Physics, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany

    Ivor Fleck

  2. IRFU, CEA Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Maxim Titov

  3. Department of Physics, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany

    Claus Grupen

  4. Unité Imagerie Moléculaire In Vivo, Orsay, France

    Irène Buvat

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Prior, J.O., Lecoq, P. (2021). Radiation-Based Medical Imaging Techniques: An Overview. In: Fleck, I., Titov, M., Grupen, C., Buvat, I. (eds) Handbook of Particle Detection and Imaging. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93785-4_35

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