IAEA/RCA Regional Training Course on 'Positron Emission Computed Tomography (PET)' will be held in 3-7 October 2005 at the University of Fukui, Japan. This is one of the activities in the IAEA/RCA Human Health Thematic Sector.

The Regional Training Course aims at assisting RCA Member States to improve the quality of PET and SPECT imaging services so that a better clinical management for cancer patients, in particular the lung cancer for men and the breast cancer for women could be achieved.

It is noted that in Asia, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer mortality among men, and breast cancer the most common cause in women. In this regard, RCA Member States decided to challenge the improvement of clinical management of patients with lung cancer and breast cancer in addition to malignant lymphoma, by strengthening nuclear oncology.

The Regional Training Course will include demonstrations on 1) Preparation of PET radiopharmaceuticals according to accepted procedures, 2) Proper imaging of in vivo radioactive distribution, and 3) Reliable interpretation of PET images, in addition to relevant lectures.

AT this stage F-18 FDG PET imaging is the best choice for clinical management of cancer patients, and most of the RCA Member States long for introduction of the technology.