Content
- Preface
- About the authors
- Sponsors
- PART I Introduction
- PART II Propagation and size reduction in medical imaging
- PART III Effects of radiation in medical imaging
- PART IV Medical Imaging: Security Approaches
- PART V Patient communication and shared decision-making
- CHAPTER VI Conclusion
- Phone book
Preface
Since its inception centuries ago, advances in the science and technology of medical imaging and radiation therapy have advanced more deeply and rapidly than ever before. Additionally, the discipline is becoming increasingly integrated as imaging techniques are increasingly used to plan, manage, monitor, and evaluate radiation therapy. Today, imaging and radiation therapy technology is so complex and computerized that it is difficult for the people responsible for running their clinics (physicians and technologists) to know exactly what is happening in their care when a patient is being examined or treated. Medical professionals are the people best equipped to understand technology and its applications, and they have the greatest responsibility for ensuring that patient care is delivered in the most effective and efficient manner in the clinical setting.
However, physicists’ increasing responsibilities in the field of clinical imaging and radiotherapy are not their problem. Most physicists have a background in radiotherapy or medical imaging and are experts in one or more of their fields. They continue to develop their skills in these areas by reading scientific articles and attending scientific conferences. On the contrary, their responsibilities will exceed their knowledge. To fulfill these responsibilities, physicists need to be up-to-date on developments in medical imaging and radiation, be prepared, and work at the intersection of these two fields. The question is how to achieve these goals.
This challenge was addressed at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Medical Association in Minneapolis by a panel of medical physicists (Arthur L. Boyer, Joseph O. Easy, C.-M.) hosted by Taylor & Francis Publishers. Pawlicki, Ervin B. Podgorsak, Elke Reitzel, Anthony B. Wolbarst, and Ellen D. Yorke). The conclusion of this article is that a bibliography should be initiated under the heading Taylor & Francis, in which each volume of the series is devoted to the fastest growing area of clinical medicine or radiation therapy of interest to the clinician. The goal of each chapter is to provide medical professionals with the information needed to understand rapidly evolving technology and the requirements to provide better and more efficient care.
Each volume in the series is edited by one or more individuals with recognized expertise in the technical-logical field covered by the book. Editors are responsible for hand-selecting chapter authors and ensuring that chapters are complete and understandable to the layperson. A group of audio writers and chapter writers were enthusiastic and emphasized the need for physicists, according to the book series, related to the lunch in Minneapolis.
This video series about diagnostic and therapeutic medicine would not be possible without the generous support of the series’ director, Lou Chosen, CEO of Taylor & Francis. The authors and editors, especially me, are responsible for the successful management of the entire project.
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