Positron Emission Tomography in clinical research and clinical diagnosis: tracer modelling and radioreceptors

Positron emission tomography (PET) allows noninvasive studies of different metabolic pathways in man in a unique way. Human biochemistry can now be studied using physiological tracers like glucose or oxygen; promising investigations are now underway with various neurotransmitters. The aim of this workshop, sponsored by the European Community, has been to convene a group of experts to discuss more deeply the problems related to the study of receptors and energy metabolism, and this particularly in relationship with the compartmental analysis and the modelling of the data. Up to now, these have mostly been accumulated for the brain and heart. Oncology is now a growing field of interest and more applications are certain to arise in the near future. The papers included in this volume summarize the main points discussed during the workshop. (author). refs.; figs.; tabs