Publisher's Synopsis
The first volume addresses the Physics. Chemistry, Biology and Clinical Applications of Radiotheranostics.This book covers scientific, clinical, and educational aspects of radiotheranostics in cancer control. Setting the framework, the first volume defines radiotheranostics and describes the history of radionuclide therapy and theranostics, and the biology of cancer. It examines the clinical applications of unconjugated radionuclides, such as p131(BI and p223(BRa, and of radionuclide-conjugated cancer-specific vectors: peptides, small molecules, antibodies, and nanoparticles; introduces clinical trials and drug development; and reviews epidemiological studies and the adverse effects of radionuclide therapy - both radiation injuries and chemical toxicity. It presents the chemistry and physics of radionuclide production, discusses radioactivity measurements and traceability, and addresses important instrumentation aspects: calibration, quantitative imaging, and quality control. Volume I concludes with guidance on the education, training, and competence of a radiotheranostic multidisciplinary team and summarizes the principal physics characteristics of theranostics today - including many to be expanded in the second volume - while offering a glimpse into tomorrow. This volume provides the foundations for the more advanced second volume, which explores dosimetric and radiation safety, aiming to empower medical physicists and demonstrate to the cancer community how to improve cancer control and yield increased patient survival times.It will be a valuable reference for medical and health physicists with basic knowledge of nuclear medicine.The second volume covers Radiation Chemistry, Radiation biology, Dosimetry, Safety, Economics and Artificial Intelligence aspects of Radiotheranostics.The book expands upon the radiotheranostic topics in cancer care covered in Volume I, which includes cancer biology, clinical applications, radionuclide production, source calibration, imaging instrumentation, and staff education, training, and competencies. Building on these foundational elements, Volume II offers in-depth coverage of radiopharmaceutical preparation and radiolabeling strategies. It presents new insights into radiation biology, including studies on human and animal radiation embryology. The dosimetry section addresses alpha-, beta-, and Auger-emitting radionuclides and explores the therapeutic potential of positrons. It emphasizes biokinetic modeling, standardized and image-based dosimetry procedures, and the quantification of uncertainties in dose calculations. Essential safety topics are also thoroughly examined, including radiation shielding, facility design, the management of deceased radiotheranostic patients, and current regulatory requirements. The volume concludes with forward-looking chapters on the economics of theranostics and the transformative role of artificial intelligence in enhancing precision medicine. The chapters are designed to equip medical physicists with the tools necessary to accurately estimate and document individual patient dosimetry and demonstrate the clinical value of dose calculations in improving cancer outcomes and survival rates. The book is intended for academic and practicing clinical medical and health physicists with a basic knowledge of nuclear medicine. Although not structured as a textbook, medical physicists in nuclear medicine physics training will also find the book helpful.Key Features: Provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic, presenting readers with thorough treatment in a cohesive two-volume book. Presents a rigorous approach while remaining accessible to students and trainees in the field. Contains consistent and extensive references to allow readers to delve deeper into the subject.
