British Journal of Radiology 75 (2002),708 © 2002 The British Institute of Radiology
Physics and Radiobiology of Nuclear Medicine (2nd edn). By G B Saha, pp. xv+253, 2001 (Springer Verlag, New York), £45.50 ISBN 0-387-95021-4
L A Malone
As stated in the preface, this book is aimed at residents taking the American Board of Nuclear Medicine and American Board of Radiology (with special competency in Nuclear Medicine) examinations, and at technologists taking Registry examinations.
The first three chapters cover the structure of matter and radioactive decay. The text then moves on to counting statistics, the production of radionuclides and interactions of radiation with matter. There are two chapters on radiation detectors before the author turns to imaging devices, SPECT and PET. The final three chapters are concemed with dosimetry, radiation biology and the regulations governing radiation protection.
I found this to be a densely written text with a rather dry and factual approach. For this reason, it is probably not an attractive first text in the physics of nuclear medicine. It requires a more practical bias to make it popular with newcomers to nuclear medlcine. For example, there is far more attention paid to the production of radionuclides in cyclotrons and reactors than the labelling and safe handling of radionuclides in the imaging department.
The chapters on radiation protection and regulation are, of course, aimed at personnel practising in the USA and are confusing and of limited value for those working in the European Community. Nevertheless, this book could be useful to those revising for examinations. Each chapter includes numerous questions based upon the text to provide practice for the student. This book may also provide a handy reference for those wishing to refresh their knowledge of aspects of the basic physics of nuclear medicine.
