Multicompartmental analysis for the nonmathematician

One finds multicompartmental systems widespread in nuclear medicine. Almost any technique used for imaging and/or physiologic evaluation rests on a radiotracer moving from one ''compartment'' to another. Initially, practitioners and residents in training could be satisfied with conceptual modeling. Now, however, many practitioners of nuclear medicine do not have a sufficient background in mathematics to participate as an observer, much less as a contributor of articles dealing with sophisticated computer-oriented modeling. The problem is particularly acute for trainees who wish to become members of academic nuclear medicine programs. This article discusses the area of multicompartmental analysis and the mathematical complexities. The authors believe a great deal of assistance is available in the form of the MacIntosh computer and a software system known as Stella. The authors present some generalities and then show the application of the system to data