Introduction to the V5N1 ePatient magazine, The road to the 2022 WFNMB congress in Kyoto

Dear friends and colleagues around the world

Francois Lamoureux and I are thrilled to introduce to our international readers the new issue of the internationally acclaimed Nuclear Medicine magazine ePatient.

The lack of concerted efforts in research and development of new radiopharmaceuticals in the last part of the 20th century created a climate of uncertainty about the field of nuclear medicine at the beginning of the 21st century. In a very interesting and remarkable turn of events, the development of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharma-ceuticals based on patients’ diseases genotypes and phenotypes and so-called isotopes pairs (Nuclear Theranostics) have triggered a true renaissance of the field of Nuclear Medicine.

Through their exquisite sensitivity and specificity, Nuclear Theranostics, in combination with hybrid imagers (SPECT/CT, PET/CT and PET/MR) will undoubtfully play a major role in precision medicine by significantly improving patient disease management, particularly in oncology.

As exciting as the renaissance of Nuclear Medicine can be, it is also full of challenges. The practice of a fully integrated diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine specialty requires in depth knowledge in many different fields of medicine (e.g. prostate cancer, breast cancer, complex imaging equipment along with an in depth understanding of patient’s diseases and management, health care systems and health care economics. This type of complex knowledge, experience and expertise represents both unique opportunities and significant challenges for medical school and nuclear medicine centers across the globe.

In this new issue of the magazine you will find interviews from various medical and industry leaders in the field sharing their views on the present and future of nuclear medicine, articles on telenuclear medicine, the treatment of hyperthyroidism, neuroendocrine tumors and a comprehensive review of brain SPECT imaging.

Also and through a heartfelt welcome note and a detailed interview of Dr. Seigo Kinua, a friend of Francois and me, you will find all the information that you need to prepare for the 13th Congress of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine.

The main theme of the WFNMB Congress in Japan will be on Theranostics. In collaboration with the Regional and National Societies of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, the WFNMB is preparing a series of events that will paved the way to Kyoto 2022. Please stay tune as more is to come on the road to Kyoto in the fall and winter issues of the magazine.

We hope you will enjoy reading this new issue of the magazine that illustrate nicely the current and future of our beloved specialty

Sincerely,

Dr.Jean-Luc Urbain, president of the WFNMB

Dr.Francois Lamoureux, president of the CANM