Positron emission tomography (PET)

Definition

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses radioactive substances to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes, and physiological activities in the body. It is particularly useful for detecting cancer, evaluating brain disorders, and monitoring heart disease.

Related terms

Radiotracer: A radioactive compound injected into the body that accumulates in specific organs or lesions, making them visible on PET scans.

Metabolism:

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms, often tracked in PET scans to assess the health and function of tissues and organs.

Nuclear Medicine:

A medical specialty that uses radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including both PET scans and other forms of imaging like SPECT