PET/CT: Essentials for Clinical Practice

This pocket guide is for all clinicians involved in the diagnosis, initial staging, and re-staging of malignancy who are interested in learning how to incorporate PET into clinical practice. It provides concise, coherent, and informative discussions that get to the heart of how to effectively use PET and PET/CT in patient management for a wide range of clinical conditions.

Introductory chapters cover the fundamentals of PET imaging, including the basic science behind PET (instrumentation and radiopharmaceuticals), patient preparation, and logistical considerations. Current reimbursement issues are also addressed. The bulk of the guide then examines PET’s role in the management of patients afflicted with malignancies currently covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), such as lymphoma, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. Additional chapters discuss PET’s use for other important malignancies, including pancreatic, ovarian, and cervical cancers, sarcoma, and seminoma. Cardiologic and neurologic applications are outlined as well. The final chapter considers the appropriateness, timing, and limitations of PET in common clinical case scenarios that readers are likely to encounter in day-to-day practice. Select images supplement the text’s emphasis on helping clinicians implement PET to improve patient management.