The contribution of Medical Physics to Nuclear Medicine: looking back - a physicist’s perspective

Abstract

BackgroundThis paper is the first in a series of invited perspectives by four pioneers of Nuclear Medicine imaging and physics. A medical physicist and a Nuclear Medicine clinical specialist each take a backward look and a forward look at the contributions of Medical Physics to Nuclear Medicine.DiscussionContributions of Medical Physics are presented from the early discovery of radioactivity, development of first imaging devices, computers and emission tomography to recent development of hybrid imaging.SummaryThere is evidence of significant contribution of Medical Physics throughout the development of Nuclear Medicine.

Comparison of dynamic flat‐panel detector‐based chest radiography with nuclear medicine ventilation‐perfusion imaging for the evaluation of pulmonary function: A clinical validation study

“…The V/Q ratio was also derived from radioactive agents% on ventilation and perfusion scans in each lung and lung region. 1,2 The average time between DCR and nuclear medicine imaging was 25.6 days (ranged 0-112 days, Mean 22 days). Fourteen out of 53 patients had both imaging on the same day, and there was no patient with thoracic surgery between the imaging sessions.…”

“…Its performance has been improved by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). 1,2 Recently, four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) [3][4][5][6][7] and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 8,9 have also been proposed and demonstrated promising results. These novel imaging techniques are expected to increase the diagnostic performance in the field of respiratory medicine and surgery.…”

“…Pulmonary ventilation and perfusion are frequently evaluated using nuclear medicine imaging, which detects radiation emitted by radioactive agents distributed in the lungs. Its performance has been improved by single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 1,2 . Recently, four‐dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) 3–7 and dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 8,9 have also been proposed and demonstrated promising results.…”

The need for nationally accepted guidelines for undergraduate nuclear medicine teaching in MBChB programmes in South Africa

“…From 1980 both PET and SPECT have evolved and become widely available, demonstrating much clinical benefit to justify its continued medical use. 21 Integrated hybrid imaging combining computed tomography (CT) such as SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have become standard practice in NM.…”

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“…Ядерная медицина является многодисциплинарным направлением и ее развитие с самого начала строилось на совместной работе физиков, врачей, биологов, математиков, радиохимиков. В работах [3,4], написанных авторами, которые стояли у истоков развития ОФЭКТ и ПЭТ технологий, подчеркивалось, что только благодаря совместным усилиям физиков, математиков, радиохимиков и врачей стало возможным становление ядерной медицины. В наши дни такое сотрудничество продолжается и без него невозможно себе представить дальнейшее развитие этого направления.…”