Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
11:09
High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals
Published on: December 16, 2022
Practical approach to diagnostic CT combined with PET
Terence Z Wong1, Erik K Paulson, Rendon C Nelson
1Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3949 Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. wong0015@mc.duke.edu
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology
|February 22, 2007
Summary
Standardized Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) protocols improve image quality and reporting for oncology patients. These four developed protocols have been widely adopted, enhancing clinical benefit through collaboration.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) protocols lack standardization, leading to variability in image quality and reporting.
- This inconsistency complicates physician requests for specific information, impacting diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a set of four standardized PET/CT protocols designed for oncology patients.
- To address the need for improved image quality, utilization, and reporting of CT findings in PET/CT.
Main Methods:
- Development of four distinct PET/CT protocols catering to diverse clinical oncology needs.
- Integration of diagnostic-quality CT scans within PET/CT examinations.
- Option for formal interpretation of CT findings by specialists.
Main Results:
- The proposed PET/CT imaging protocols have achieved wide acceptance among referring physicians.
- Successfully implemented in over 6,000 PET/CT studies, demonstrating broad clinical utility.
- Facilitated joint review of PET/CT images for adjudicating equivocal or discordant findings.
Conclusions:
- Standardized PET/CT protocols are crucial for maximizing clinical benefit in oncology.
- Continued collaboration among oncologists, CT specialists, and nuclear medicine specialists is essential.
- Advancements in technology will drive the development of newer PET/CT protocols, emphasizing the importance of standardization for multi-institutional trials.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique involving radiopharmaceuticals — substances that emit short-lived radiation. Although the first PET scanner was introduced in 1961, it took 15 more years before radiopharmaceuticals were combined with the technique and revolutionized its potential.
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body being...
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that provides crucial insights into the body's physiological functions at a molecular level. It is an indispensable resource for diagnosing, staging, and monitoring various illnesses, notably cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular conditions.
Fundamental Principles of PET
Fundamental Principles of PET
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Radiological investigations are paramount in the diagnosis and management of various pulmonary diseases. Two essential investigations are the Pulmonary Angiogram and the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan.
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
01:10Computed Tomography
Tomography refers to imaging by sections. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that uses computers to analyze several cross-sectional X-rays to reveal minute details about structures in the body.
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
The technique was invented in the 1970s and is based on the principle that as X-rays pass through the body, they are absorbed or reflected at different levels. In the technique, a patient lies on a motorized platform while a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanner rotates...
01:27Imaging Studies III: Computed Tomography
DefinitionComputed Tomography (CT) of the genitourinary (GU) tract is a non-invasive imaging modality that utilizes X-rays and computer processing to generate detailed cross-sectional images of the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and adjacent structures such as the adrenal glands.PurposeCT scans of the GU tract serve several diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including:Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Diseases: Detects kidney stones, tumors, cysts, and congenital...