Starting from fundamental discoveries in nuclear physics such as radioactivity, nuclear fission and the production of artificial radioactive isotopes, methods were developed for administering radioactive substances in biology and medicine which, with the help of special measuring instruments, paved the way for research into diverse physiological and pathophysiological metabolic processes. Between 1947, when artificial radioactive isotopes first became available in Europe and 1999, nuclear medicine in Europe has made rapid strides to become a diagnostic and therapeutic service specialty serving virtually all medical disciplines. This has been associated with various shifts in its focus and adjustments to suit ever-changing conditions.
Beginning with pioneering work by a few interested doctors and scientists, in most countries nuclear medicine has developed into an independent medical specialty with the establishment of separate professional societies, university chairs and specialist status recognition. At the international level as well, it has become firmly established with European societies, committees and associations.
Thanks to the as yet relatively short period that has elapsed since the birth of the specialty we are in the happy situation of being able to preserve the memorabilia of the evolution of nuclear medicine first-hand, i.e. from the founding fathers of this discipline themselves, with the help of video interviews and correspondence. The personal information from over 40 eminent authorities in European nuclear medicine on which this volume is founded makes it an informative, exciting and vivid narrative of medical history in the second half of the 20th century.