Positron-emission tomography scanner

Q.3.5 The PET (positron emission tomography) scanner uses a tagged radioisotope to measure glucose delivery to similar regions of the brain during brain tasks . Is this a better system for observing intellectual function than those described in Question 3.4 ... 

Positron emission tomography (PET) A medical imaging technique that helps physicians locate tumors and other growths in the body. A radioactive tracer isotope which emits a positron is incorporated into a metaholically active molecule. A scanner locates the tissues where the radioactive substance winds up. 

Kinahan PE, Hasegawa BH, Beyer T (2003). X-ray-based attenuation correction for positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanners. Semin Nucl Med 33 166... 

Since the publication of this book in 2005, the growth of positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/CT modality has been phenomenal with the discovery of efficient detectors and the addition of sophisticated scanners and powerful software. Because of the vast advancement and changes in technology, and also with great appreciation of the success of the first edition, we thought a second edition of the book would be appropriate. 

The next subject we will address is that of scintillators. These are phosphors used to detect a, p, and y rays from incident sources. This application has become very important with the advent of CT-scanners and the PET-scanner, i.e.- CT = "computerized tomagraphy" and PET = "positron emission tomography". In all cases, radioactive Isotopes are used as the source of these "rays", including positrons, i.e.- positive electrons, p. Although scintillation, i.e.- detection of high energy radioactive-decay particles, may occur for nearly all phosphors, efficient scintillators must satisfy the following requirements for practical use. 

During the later 1970s, TerPogossian and his colleagues built a series of positron emission tomography (PET) scanners that were later developed commercially by ORTEC, Inc, a company that later was called CTI, Inc, and in 2006 was acquired by Siemens AG. 

Development of the first computer-based medical instrument, the computerized axial tomography scanner, revolutionized cHnical approaches to noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedures, which now include magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography as well. 

A FIGURE 21.10 Schematic representation of a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. 

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