Conclusion
The technologist provides a vital interface between the patient, the clinician, the nursing and the scientific staff. The information obtained from the patients can be structured to give additional information to the clinicians interpreting the scans if recorded methodically. Technologists are aware of the finer technical aspects of the scans and the procedures that the patients will need to follow, and can both reassure and answer most of the questions asked. Technologists also have to be able to adapt to changing situations when there are failures of tracer production and the combination of their practical experience and theoretical knowledge means that they are well placed to do this effectively. The interaction with other cross-sectional imaging modalities, particularly in the light of an increasing use of image registration (“fusion”) techniques, further brings together skills from radiographic and nuclear medicine technology backgrounds. This interaction should encourage individuals from varied backgrounds to consider PET as a dynamic, evolving, imaging specialty that has a lot to offer.
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Cronin, B.F. (2005). The Technologist’s Perspective. In: Bailey, D.L., Townsend, D.W., Valk, P.E., Maisey, M.N. (eds) Positron Emission Tomography. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-84628-007-9_15
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