Nuclear Cardiology

Nuclear medicine is undergoing major orientation both praetieally and eoneeptu- ally. To this point nuclear medieine has direeted the major portion of its effort to visualization of statie organ systems. The true value of this teehnique lies not in its ability to graphieally display organ systems, but rather its ability to measure organ funetion in a noninvasive manner. Dr. Serafini and his eolleagues have, in this book, brought together the experts of the different phases of cardiodynamies. The eontents lead one to believe that there are relatively simple innoeuous tests that ean supply large amounts of extremely important physiologie data without the neeessity for open invasion of the heart. Perhaps the most exciting part of the studies is the glimpse into the future they provide. The depth and versatility of these teehniques is displayed by the surprising variety of problems amenable to nuclear medieine examination. Perhaps the one point that is ever present in all these teehniques is the ability to perform the tests sequentially in different time frames as the patient's eondi- tion ehanges or a major event is taking plaee, sueh as surgery. The work presented in this volume must be eonsidered the genesis of the new nuc1ear medieine and I, for one, look forward with great anticipation to what will follow.