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Positron Emission Tomography

Positron 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...

Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy

Imaging 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

Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan

Radiological 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...

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

Isotopes and Radioisotopes

In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes — atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
An isotope containing more...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

A Basic Positron Emission Tomography System Constructed to Locate a Radioactive Source in a Bi-dimensional Space

A Basic Positron Emission Tomography System Constructed to Locate a Radioactive Source in a Bi-dimensional Space

Published on: February 1, 2016

[Positron emission tomography: basic principle and radionuclides/probes for metabolic/functional analysis].

Tsuneo Saga¹, Kyosan Yoshikawa, Koichi Ishizu

¹Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba 263-8555.

Rinsho Byori. the Japanese Journal of Clinical Pathology

|August 28, 2007

Summary

Positron emission tomography (PET) offers sensitive, quantitative functional imaging using various probes. While PET provides valuable physiological data, its limited spatial resolution and lack of anatomical detail present challenges in lesion detection and localization.

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A Dual Tracer PET-MRI Protocol for the Quantitative Measure of Regional Brain Energy Substrates Uptake in the Rat

A Dual Tracer PET-MRI Protocol for the Quantitative Measure of Regional Brain Energy Substrates Uptake in the Rat

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A Basic Positron Emission Tomography System Constructed to Locate a Radioactive Source in a Bi-dimensional Space

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Published on: February 1, 2016

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A Dual Tracer PET-MRI Protocol for the Quantitative Measure of Regional Brain Energy Substrates Uptake in the Rat

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Area of Science:

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging technique.
Utilizes coincidence detection and attenuation correction for sensitive, quantitative data.

Context:

PET visualizes the distribution and movement of injected PET probes non-invasively.
Various positron emitters and PET probes are employed in clinical and research settings.
Short half-lives of positron emitters necessitate on-site cyclotron production.

Purpose:

To explain the basic principles of PET imaging.
To introduce various positron emitters and PET probes.
To discuss the applications of PET in oncology, neurology, and cardiology.

Summary:

PET imaging provides highly sensitive and quantitative functional data.
Limitations include spatial resolution and lack of anatomical information.
Radiolabeling molecules like water, oxygen, and ammonia allows precise physiological evaluation.
18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is a common probe, but others assess blood flow, metabolism, hypoxia, and neurotransmitter conditions.

Impact:

Enables precise evaluation of physiological function and deviations in pathological conditions.
Facilitates research and clinical applications in oncology, neurology/psychiatry, and cardiology.
Highlights the need for specialized facilities with cyclotrons for PET probe production.