Guest Editorial

This issue of Seminars in Nuclear Medicine provides 8 articles that discuss the current practice of radiation dosimetry in nuclear medicine and relate calculated dose estimates to the associated risks. In any use of ionizing radiation, consideration of the benefits of the exposures to possible risks is a central concern, for the physician and patient. Currently, much attention is being paid to reducing doses to patients, particularly pediatric patients, owing to concerns about the rapid increase in collective dose seen in recent decades in patients receiving radiation doses as part of their medical care, as significant increases in the use of CT and nuclear medicine including PET have occurred. The articles in this issue address computational methods in dosimetry, both in traditional (whole organ and effective dose) approaches, and with advanced, 3-dimensional dose-mapping techniques. Articles also discuss relating radiation dose to biological effects, and managing and optimizing risks in the context of benefits. Several very well-known and experienced authors have contributed to this work; the body of knowledge contained in this single publication is impressive and should be of great value to the nuclear medicine community.

Source: Seminars in Nuclear Medicine - May 1, 2014 Category: Radiology Authors: Frederic H. Fahey, Michael G. Stabin Source Type: research