The IAEA assists its Member States in their efforts to develop effective, evidence based interventions to combat malnutrition in all its forms using nuclear techniques. This publication was developed as an integral part of the IAEA’s efforts to contribute to the transfer of technology and knowledge in the application of a widely used nuclear technique in nutrition, dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA). It provides information on the theoretical background as well as on the practical application of DXA to measure bone mineral density and to assess body composition.

This publication provides information on the theoretical background as well as on the practical application of state of the art methodology to monitor changes in body composition, based on the analysis of deuterium in saliva by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry.

This publication complements the IAEA publication Assessment of Body Composition and Total Energy Expenditure in Humans Using Stable Isotope Techniques by providing practical guidance on the use of stable isotope techniques to assess body composition in settings where biological samples can be analysed by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

The current and future burden of cancer incidence in developing countries requires the planning, establishment and upgrading of radiotherapy services at the national level. This publication is a practical guide outlining the main issues at stake when planning national radiotherapy services. It provides an assessment of the cancer burden, evaluates the existing resources, and determines what is needed and how to cover the gap in a resource oriented rational way. The publication will be of practical value to decision makers and programme managers in public health facing the organization or reorganization of radiotherapy services in their countries.

This publication has been written for students and professionals in radiation oncology and cancer control programmes. It serves as a source of information on treatment decisions with regard to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or liver cancer. Radiotherapy plays a major role in the treatment of HCC, which is one of the most common causes of cancer death globally. However, to date there have been no uniform recommendations, and the use of radiotherapy is limited by pre-existing liver disease. The present publication reports the results of an assessment of the role of radiotherapy within the entire framework of HCC management. It may guide the appropriate use of limited resources towards the most appropriate indications, and help in differentiating the approaches used for cure or palliation of HCC.

The establishment of a PET (positron emission tomography) facility constitutes a large commitment in terms of initial capital and infrastructure development and support, especially in developing countries, where PET and CT (computed tomography) are in limited use or absent. The emergence of a hybrid system, such as PET/CT, has stimulated much interest among clinicians as it provides additional information which is essential for the management of many cancers. This publication is intended to assist health care administrators and clinicians in their efforts to plan and establish a new clinical PET facility. It covers the role of PET and the emerging hybrid technology PET/CT, which provides additional information for successful cancer management, as well as local high priority health issues. It also provides comprehensive information for the establishment of medically oriented cyclotron facilities for the production of PET tracers and of radiopharmacies, all central to the delivery of PET services. Cost effectiveness of PET and strategies for useful decision making with regard to implementation of PET procedures in clinical practice are also covered.

The use of PET (positron emission tomography) has become the standard quality of care for optimal management of patients with cancer. The availability of the hybrid PET/CT (positron emission tomography/computed tomography) scanner has further improved the utility of PET scanning and provides additional benefits both to patients and to the health system. This publication addresses the important issue of appropriateness of the application of PET/CT procedures in different clinical scenarios for many cancers. It is a resource for specialists in nuclear medicine and oncology, and aims to make reliable information widely available to those Member States where PET programmes are still in their planning phase or where the use of PET scanning is limited.

This publication was developed by an international group of experts as an integral part of the IAEA’s efforts to contribute to the transfer of technology and knowledge in nutrition. Its aim is to assist Member States in their efforts to combat malnutrition by facilitating the use of relevant nuclear techniques. The stable (non-radioactive) isotope technique has been developed to assess intake of human milk in breastfed infants. The practical application of the stable isotope technique, based on analysis of deuterium by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), is presented in this book.

Interest in quality assurance processes and quality improvement in diagnostic radiology is being driven by a number of factors. These include the high cost and complexity of radiological equipment, acknowledgement of the possibility of increasing doses to patients, and the importance of radiological diagnosis to patient management within the health care environment. To acknowledge these interests, clinical audits have been introduced and, in Europe, mandated under a European Directive (Council Directive 97/47/EURATOM). Comprehensive clinical audits focus on clinical management and infrastructure, patient related and technical procedures, and education and research. This publication includes a structured set of standards appropriate for diagnostic radiology, an audit guide to their clinical review, and data collection sheets for the rapid production of reports in audit situations. It will be a useful guide for diagnostic radiology facilities wishing to improve their service to patients through timely diagnosis with minimal radiation dose.

There is increased global interest in radiolabelled biologicals for clinical applications. Influenced by the search for the ‘biological bullet’, a variety of strategies have evolved for radiolabelling biological products with a view to human health application. This publication describes the challenges that the in vivo use of these products brings and provides essentials from in vitro to in vivo validation in human investigations. Additional attention is paid to safety and the effective use of radiolabelled biologicals in a busy clinical setting. The publication will be a useful resource for nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, radiopharmacists, pharmacologists and other researchers engaged with radiolabelling biologicals for clinical applications.

This publication establishes a detailed set of protocols concerning the application of radiation for medical purposes within the speciality of mammography. The publication addresses the requirements of a quality assurance programme which will allow an organization to optimize the conditions necessary to achieve the early detection of breast cancer and assure its successful treatment. To that end, the publication contains details of actions needed to install and promote the quality culture, systematic programme of conduct and appropriate education that are critical for success. Instructional material to supplement the knowledge of professionals already working in this field is also provided, as well as quality control worksheets.

Quality assurance is a crucial part of all aspects of nuclear medicine practice. The objective of this publication is to provide professionals in nuclear medicine centres with detailed quality control test procedures for the scintillation camera and computer system. Three types of quality tests are described in detail: acceptance, reference and routine tests for the scintillation camera, both in single and multiple head configurations, for obtaining images and quantitative data in planar imaging mode; whole body imaging mode; and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The publication is primarily intended to be of use to medical physicists, technologists and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for ensuring optimal performance of imaging instruments, particularly SPECT systems. It may also be useful to managers, clinicians and other decision makers who are responsible for implementing quality assurance and quality control programmes in nuclear medicine centres.