Therapeutic Applications of Monte Carlo Calculations in Nuclear Medicine examines the applications of Monte Carlo (MC) calculations in therapeutic nuclear medicine, from basic principles to computer implementations of software packages and their applications in radiation dosimetry and treatment planning. With chapters written by recognized authorities in the field, the book covers the entire range of MC applications in therapeutic medical and health physics, from its use in imaging prior to therapy to dose distribution modeling in targeted radiotherapy. The contributors discuss the fundamental concepts of radiation dosimetry, radiobiological aspects of targeted radionuclide therapy, and the various components and steps required for implementing a dose calculation and treatment planning methodology in radioimmunotherapy. Several computer programs, such as MIRDOSE, MABDOS, and 3D-ID, are described and illustrated with some useful features and clinical applications. Other potential applications of MC techniques are discussed together with computing aspects of radiation transport calculations.

The book is written for nuclear medicine physicists and physicians as well as radiation oncologists, and can serve as a supplementary text for medical imaging, radiation dosimetry, and nuclear engineering graduate courses in science, medical, and engineering institutions.

The Monte Carlo method: theory and computational issues
Monte Carlo techniques in nuclear medicine dosimetry
Medical imaging techniques for radiation dosimetry
Computational methods in internal radiation dosimetry
Mathematical models of the human anatomy
Monte Carlo codes for use in therapeutic nuclear medicine
Dose point kernels for radionuclide dosimetry
Radiobiology aspects and radionuclide selection criteria in cancer therapy
Microdosimetry of targeted radionuclides
The MABDOS program for internal radionuclide dosimetry
The 3D-ID three-dimensional internal dosimetry software package
Validation and verification of absorbed dose calculations in radionuclide therapy
Monte Carlo methods and mathematical models for the dosimetry of skeleton and bone marrow
Monte Carlo modeling of dose distributions in intravascular radiation therapy
The Monte Carlo method as a design tool in Boron Neutron Capture Synovectomy
Summary

Editorial Reviews

"The book is generally well written, clearly presented, and very well documented. Each chapter gives an overview of each subject, and it is up to the reader to investigate it further using the extensive bibliography provided. Each topic is discussed from a practical point of view, which is of great help for nonexperienced readers. For instance, the chapter about mathematical aspects of Monte Carlo particle transport is very clear and helps one to apprehend the philosophy of the method, which is often a difficulty with a more theoretical approach. This book is very interesting, of practical interest, and it should have its utility in all modern nuclear medicine departments interested in dosimetry, providing up-to-date data and references. It should be viewed as a good and well-documented handbook, or as a general introduction for beginners and students."
-J. Coulot, Phys. Med. Biol. (2003) 48, 2

"The two initial chapters, describing general MC methods and their application to nuclear medical dose estimation, are important. Chapter 6 is useful for its review of various MC computer codes available and the limitations of each. Kassis's description of radiobiology and choice of radionuclide is excellent and contains interesting novel information on cellular bystander effects. Also included is an extended discussion of imaging methods, with emphasis on SPECT and PET. The analysis done at Lund University is particularly interesting for the determination of scatter and attenuation effects in 131I photon detection … This is a timely review of an important subject. The contributors are of international stature and the editor is congratulated on bringing together this expertise."
-Professor Steve Webb, J. Nucl. Med. (2003) 44, p. 991

"This book consists of 15 chapters over 364 pages related to the use of Monte Carlo methodology in nuclear medicine. Starting with an introduction to Monte Carlo, a range of topics is covered that to a greater or lesser extent are linked to the subject. The book is comprehensive and to some extent the title belies the range of content within, as it will appeal to the more general reader as well as to those with a penchant for number-crunching. The introductory material on Monte Carlo modeling is very useful and well written, as are the chapters on imaging for dosimetry and an introduction to radiobiology … This is, in all, an excellent book and should be compulsory reading for physicians and physicists with an interest in targeted therapy and quantitative imaging … Certainly, for those departments with any interest in targeted therapy, this book is essential."
-Glenn Flux, European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (2003) 30, p. 772

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