European Journal of Radiology
Volume 44, Issue 1 , Pages 70-75, October 2002

Positron emission tomography: a technical introduction for clinicians

  • Jacobus A.K Blokland

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, C4Q Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +31-715263485; fax: +31-715266751
    • ,
  • Petar Trindev

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, C4Q Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
    • Medical Faculty, Centre of Nuclear Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria
    • ,
  • Marcel P.M Stokkel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, C4Q Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Ernest K.J Pauwels

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, C4Q Leiden University Medical Centre, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

Received 23 August 2001; received in revised form 12 December 2001; accepted 13 December 2001.

Abstract 

Up to a few years ago, positron emission tomography (PET) was known as a very expensive research tool using positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals to study metabolic processes in vivo. Recent developments in detector technology enabled the detection of the distribution of positron emitting radionuclides inside the human body through dual-headed gamma camera systems. These much cheaper cameras did move the focus of PET from research to clinical applications. The improved availability of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose has promoted clinical PET. Ongoing developments in detector and image reconstruction technology may lead to even more accurate imaging in the clinical setting. New applications in diagnosing and staging of cancer patients came across and more will arise. In this paper, we present a short historical overview and a technical introduction of PET.

Keywords:  Positron emission tomography, Dual-head gamma camera, 18FDG, Oncology

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PII: S0720-048X(02)00003-7

European Journal of Radiology
Volume 44, Issue 1 , Pages 70-75, October 2002

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