Medical imaging in the new century

This paper is a brief introduction on nuclear molecular imaging, dealing with the state of medical imaging for what concerns radionuclide imaging. After a description of the available nuclear technologies and their characteristics, the new developments in this field are illustrated, with particular attention to Positron emission tomography and its possible application in future gene therapy. Existing clinical application for the diagnosis of most diseases is illustrated, defining the role of the most diffuse radiopharmaceutical, the glucose analogue fluoro-deoxy-glucose. This radiopharmaceutical is likely to be the first to be introduced in developing countries, due to its biological properties and to its relative ease of production. (author)