What is PET scanning?
PET is an acronym for Positron Emission Tomography, widely recognized as one of the most advanced medical functional imaging methods. Combined with CT (computerized tomography (PET/CT) it represents the most advanced imaging technology today.
Traditional imaging techniques (ultrasound, CT alone, MRI) mostly generate a view of the anatomy or of the structure of organs or organ-systems with good spatial accuracy. Their disadvantage is that they are able to differentiate between benign and malignant tumours only when the organs have already modified in structure, size or shape.
Functional imaging technologies (e. g. dynamic IMR, SPECT, PET) provide not just simple anatomical images but data corresponding to various functional characteristics of organs or of tissues (e.g. blood circulation, metabolic activity) at a given time. Diseases first cause changes in the functional characteristics of organs and tissues which are usually secondarily followed by anatomical changes. Therefore, it is critically important that functional imaging technologies are able to identify diseases much earlier, well before development of any apparent anatomical changes.
Positron Emission Tomography is a functional imaging technology that is able to generate images of
biochemical processes of the body with the help of molecules labelled with positron-emitting isotopes.
Today, with PET cameras equipped with a CT device, functional information is merged with anatomical
information (CT) into a single image during a fast simaging session.
During the past years, PET/CT technology has brought revolutionary
changes to oncological, cardiological and neurological diagnostics.