Based on the experience gained by PET/CT experts with more than 10,000 patients, this manual impressively demonstrates the advantages of combined PET/CT. It also refers to publications from Europe, the USA and Asia as well as numerous studies.

It was at Frankfurt/Mainin 1899 that Paul Ehrlich first expounded his famous "site-chain theory" -which described the basic immunological principal of antibody-antigen interactio- on the occasion of the opening of the Institute for Experimental Therapeutics (which was later named after him). Nearly 100 years have passed since, and in retrospect it can be said that the "Ehrlich Era" (first steps in immunology "Magic Bullet" concept) and the "Behring Era" (detection of antibodies and serum therapy) formed the essential basis in the development of immunology. Niels K. Jerne, the former director of the Paul Ehrlich Institute in Frankfurt/Main received, together with Georges Kohler and Cesar Milstein, the Nobel Prize in Medicine 1984. These late successors of Ehrlich and Behring first described the hybridoma technology (in 1975) which enabled one of the most important and revolutionary technological innovations in the field of immunology -the production of monoclonal antibodies. It happens that, the time of the publication of this book, just a decade has passed since the first use of radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies in man (by the Lausanne Group). Over these 10 years a tremendous progress has taken place in the field of immunoscintigraphy: A large panel of highly specific monoclonal antibodies against tumour-associated antigens as well as normal cell compounds have been developed. Enormous progress has been made in the field of radiolabelling -from iodine-131 to technetium-99mor even positron-emittingradionuclides, e. g. iodine-124.

* Provides both general and specific information about the performance of PET/CT * Experiences based on over 10,000 patient studies * Includes extensive references * Case studies with over 700 illustrations permit an almost complete diagnostics * Offers interdisciplinary coverage that meets the need of Radiologists and Nuclear Medicine Specialists Since 1999/2000 simultaneous imaging of anatomical features and metabolic activities using fused PET and CT images has complemented and in many cases even replaced what was originally done as separate analysis. - Is this a small revolution? - In fact, this new approach can be considered to be without a rival for imaging diagnosis. The complementary efforts of nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists have improved the diagnostic value of PET/CT scans. The successful use of PET/CT in the field of oncology has been documented world-wide, and in cardiology we can take advantage of the significant findings of PET diagnosis, particularly in the USA. New prospects are now available for paediatric oncology and molecular medicine. Based on the experience gained by PET/CT experts with more than 10,000 patients, this manual impressively demonstrates the advantages of combined PET/CT. It also refers to publications from Europe, the USA and Asia as well as numerous studies. The comprehensive literature lists at the end of each chapter is extended on the CD which accompanies the book. This list goes beyond the field of PET/CT and takes into account neighbouring disciplines.