Radioisotope studies in cardiology

During the last decade many significant advances have been made in the in vivo diagnosis of disease. An area of partic- ular success has been the application of nuclear medical procedures to the detection of cardiac disease. Not only is it possible to detect infarction or ischemia by scintigraphic techniques but by the use of labelled metabol- ites and analogues of potassium the viability of myocardial tissue can be evaluated. The efficiency of the heart pump can be calculated and wall motility observed in one simple proce- dure. The use of ultra short life radionuclides has made the evaluation of rapid changes in myocardial function feasible. Altogether a broad and impressive diagnostic package. In this volume up-to-date reviews of all of the available techniques have been collected including methods which are still in the development phase. There is an inherent emphasis on European experience in Nuclear Cardiology which is then placed in context with world wide experience in the field. This volume will be of interest to all concerned with cardiac diseases and we hope that it will serve to stimulate further developments in the future. H.J. Biersack, Bonn P.H. Cox, Rotterdam VIII CONlRIBUTORS Bauer, R. - Nukleanredizinisdl.e Klinik und Poliklinik redl.ts der Isar der Tedlnisdl.en Universitat Mlinchen, FRS. Biersack, H.J. - Institut fur klinisdl.e und experimentelle Nukleanredizin der Universitat Bonn, FRG. Breuel, H.P. - Degussa Phanna Horrburg, Frankfurt 1, FRG. Cox, P .H. - Department of Nuclear Hedicine, Rotterdamsdl. Radio-Therapeutisdl.