Fundamentals of Nuclear Medicine Dosimetry

Michael Stabin received a PhD in nuclear engineering (health physics emphasis) from the University of Tennessee in 1996 and a Master of Engineering and bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 1983 and 1981. He worked for 15 years (1983 to 1998) at the Radiation Internal Dose Information Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, held a visiting professor position from 1998 to 2000 in Recife, Brazil, and currently works as an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He serves on the editorial staffs of the Health Physics Journal, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, and the Journal of Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals. He is the author of numerous research articles and textbook chapters regarding radiation dose models and calculations, particularly in the area of nuclear medicine.

If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees. -From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran This was a very satisfying book to write, but also perhaps a very dangerous one. After 15 years of building a base of knowledge in radiopharmaceutical dosimetry (under the expert guidance of Evelyn Watson at the Oak Ridge Dosimetry Center), 8 years of teaching radiation protection and dosimetry at the university level (in northeastern Brazil and at Vanderbilt University in the United States), and Photo used with permission. Copyright © OregonVacationBeaches.com. Also see Memorable-Beach-Vacations.com. v vi Preface authoring a number of papers and book chapters on the subject, it was rewarding to write down in a single, organized text nearly all that I have learned on this topic. My deepest desire is that this text will be found useful by members of the nuclear medicine and radiation protection community in formalizing and facilitating such calculations. After learning a technique for performing dose calculations that must be done often, I have often found ways to automate such work in software tools and to make such tools available to others in order to help them shortcut their efforts. One of the greatest rewards I have received in my work has been to see a few of the tools and ideas that I have developed become useful to others in their routine work.

Written by Michael Stabin, a leading international authority in the field, this book is ideal for physicians and residents in nuclear medicine who want to improve their knowledge in internal dosimetry. The text is a practical introduction that guides the reader through fundamental concepts in the calculation of radiation dose, including discussions of standardized models, methods of calculations, and available software applications. This comprehensive guide discusses too the biological effects of radiation on living systems. The book also includes an overview of regulatory aspects related to the radiation dosimetry of new radiopharmaceuticals. Case presentations and illustrations highlight situations that nuclear medicine professionals are likely to encounter in everyday practice.

Uses of Dosimetry Information in Nuclear Medicine.- Fundamental Concepts Calculating Radiation Dose.- Models and Resources for Internal Dose Calculations.- Steps in Dose Calculations.- Case Studies.- Biological Effects of Radiation.- Regulatory Aspects of Dose Calculations.