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Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) cameras have revolutionarily changed nuclear imaging techniques and given us new diagnostic possibilities. They provide images that reveal subtle information about physiological and pathological processes. For some indications like cardiac and brain imaging, as well as tumor imaging, the importance of SPECT compared to planar imaging is beyond words. This book covers a broad spectrum of clinical applications of SPECT in the diagnosis of benign and malignant diseases. The opening chapters discuss the technology and physics of SPECT and its use in dosimetry. Applications covered include, among others, imaging of the bone and lungs, imaging of neuroendocrine tumors, cardiac imaging and brain SPECT for different indications like brain tumors and epilepsy. In each chapter, different radiopharmaceuticals for SPECT imaging were discussed and the scan procedures described. Readers will find this book to be a useful source for often performed SPECT imaging in the clinical routine.

Teach us to live that we may dread Unnecessary time in bed Get people up and we may save Our patients from an early grave. A most revealing paraphrase by Asher• of a verse by Bishop Thomas Ken more than adequately summarizes the plight of the immobilized patient, who often lies dormant and de­ pressed for years on end. In this volume, Dr. Steinberg has offered the reader a unique opportunity to share his many years of experience in caring for the immobilized patient. His careful attempt to explore the pathophysiologic effects of immobilization on a number of organ systems, combined with a host of practical aspects with regard to patient care, is unique and refreshing. This text should command the re­ spect of any physician faced with the vicissitudes and frus­ trations of caring for the immobilized. The final chapter de­ tailing'The Psychological Aspects of Immobilization,'by Hammer and Kenan, offers the reader considerable insight into the essentials and value of occupational and physical therapy. It should prove most valuable to physicians as well'Asher, R. A. ]. Dangers of going to bed. Br. Med. J. 2:907, 1947. v vi FOREWORD as social workers, paramedical personnel, and the many physical therapists who come into daily contact with the nonambulatory patient. L. V. Avioli St. Louis Preface It may be a paradox that the importance of disability and immobilization has been enhanced by the very progress of medical science.

The 1999 international conference on Information Processing in Medical Imaging (IPMI'99) was the sixteenth in the series of biennial meetings and followed the successful meeting in Poultney, Vermont, in 1997. This year, for the rst time, the conference was held in central Europe, in the historical Hungarian town of Visegr ad, one of the most beautiful spots not only on the Danube Bend but in all Hungary. The place has many historical connections, both national and international. The castle was once a royal palace of King Matthias. In the middle ages, the Hungarian, Czech, and Polish kings met here. Recently, after the summit meeting of reestablished democracies in the area, it became a symbol for the cooperation between central European countries as they approached the European Union. It was thus also symbolic to bring IPMI, in the year of the 30th anniversary of its foundation, to this place, and organize the meeting with the close cooperation of local and traditional western organizers. It also provided a good opportunity to summarize brie?y a history of IPMI for those who were new to the IPMI conference. This year we received 82 full paper submissions from all over the world. Of these, 24 were accepted as oral presentations. These were divided into 6 sessions. In spite of our e orts, it was found to be impossible to make these sessions fully balanced and homogeneous.