ABSTRACT
Nuclear medicine is vibrant medical field that utilizes radioactive tracers and radiographic principles to image body functions. Diagnostic nuclear medicine, also called nuclear imaging, lies at the intersection of several fields, including isotope production, radiochemistry, pharmacology, radiation detection, computer science, and medicine. As with any clinical use of ionizing radiation, optimization plays a central role in nuclear imaging technologies. Present-day nuclear imaging procedures are designed to balance the restraints and limitations imposed by all aspects of the modality, and successfully support diverse clinical applications. In this chapter the various aspects of nuclear imaging that relate to optimization are discussed. Review of the text should acquaint the reader with the relevant optimization-related considerations important for nuclear imaging.
