PET scans are highly useful in multiple areas of imaging. They have the unique capability of providing information on the activity of cells in certain areas, not just the density. The short book by Phelps, PET: Physics, Instrumentation, and Scanners,provides a hand reference to understanding some of the principles of PET. It is a simple and direct overview of the underlying physics and of the means of capturing and creating the images.
The first chapter reviews the physics in simple to understand terms while keeping close to the underlying physics. To anyone with a reasonable college level exposure the details fill in the principles with adequate details to understand how PET functions. This first Chapter is well written, easy to understand, reasonably comprehensive and sets the stage for the other issues.
The Chapters on image construction are rudimentary and as
with the introduction provide the necessary insight for a visceral
understanding. I found the discussions on pp 44-45 very straightforward and
spot on in terms of getting the principle across. What I found missing was the
details on image reconstruction especially as applied to 3D images. However
such depth would have made the book much longer and may have been a bit too
complex for the intended audience.
The later chapters discuss applications and these were quite
readable and useful. Integrated CT and PET have become useful in tracking
certain malignancies and the authors provide a good overview. Again I would
have liked more detail and discussion especially for multiple malignancies but
as with the prior comment it would have substantially lengthened the text and
set it at a much higher level.
Overall this is a superb overview with depth adequate to
allow an educated reader to have all the key gaps filled as well as laying out
a path for more in depth reading and examination. I would strongly recommend this
work for anyone seeking a refresher or a first start on PET.
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