Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a form of nuclear imaging which uses fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as the radiotracer. This allows a 3D image of metabolic activity to be generated using glucose uptake as a proxy marker. The images obtained are then combined with a conventional imaging technique such as CT to decide whether lesions are metabolically active.

Uses

• evaluating primary and possible metastatic disease
• assess response to treatment in certain cancers e.g. lymphoma post-chemotherapy
  PET scanning more useful than CT/MRI to assess response to chemotherapy in lymphoma
  You've never been tested on this concept
  You've not yet rated this concept.
  Importance: 78
• assesses myocardial viability in ischaemic heart disease
  PET scanning can be used to assesse myocardial viability in ischaemic heart disease
  You've never been tested on this concept
  You've not yet rated this concept.
  Importance: 90

+PassMedicine Notes

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a form of nuclear imaging which uses fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) as the radiotracer. This allows a 3D image of metabolic activity to be generated using glucose uptake as a proxy marker. The images obtained are then combined with a conventional imaging technique such as CT to decide whether lesions are metabolically active.

Uses

• evaluating primary and possible metastatic disease
• assess response to treatment in certain cancers e.g. lymphoma post-chemotherapy
• assesses myocardial viability in ischaemic heart disease