Positron-emission tomography (PET) is a special form of medical imaging which enables doctors to visualize specific functions inside the body in 3D.
This is done with the use of a radiopharmaceutical, which is a special molecule combined with very small amount of radioactivity, and a special scanner. The images obtained can provide physicians with information to help them to diagnose, monitor and treat disease.
The radiopharmaceutical is injected into the patient’s bloodstream, and the patient is imaged on a special camera called a PET scanner. These scanners can use two different imaging techniques to get information on body structure and function in one test.
The results of these scans are processed by software to give doctors both functional and structural information in one set of images.
Clinical applications include oncology, cardiology, neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation.
If you would like to learn more about nuclear medicine, including PET imaging, information can be found here: https://whatisnuclearmedicine.com/
UKBED-N/A-2500003 / January 2025
