Positron emission tomography (PET) is a medical imaging technique that utilizes radioactive tracers to assess the functions of organs and tissues within the human body. It involves the emission of positrons, which are small particles with the same mass as an electron but opposite charge, from a radioactive substance introduced into the body.
During a PET scan, the patient is injected with a radiotracer, which is typically a small amount of a radioactive material specifically designed to bind to certain molecules in the body. As the radiotracer decays, it emits positrons. When a positron encounters an electron, the two particles annihilate each other, resulting in the emission of two gamma rays traveling in opposite directions.
Special detectors surrounding the patient's body detect these gamma rays, allowing a computer to create images that illustrate the distribution of the radiotracer in the body. This enables medical professionals to study the metabolic activity and biochemical processes occurring in different regions of the body, helping in the diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases, including cancer, heart conditions, and neurological disorders.
PET scans provide valuable information about the functioning of organs and tissues on a molecular level, allowing for early detection of diseases, evaluation of treatment effectiveness, and characterization of abnormal tissues. With its ability to provide valuable functional and metabolic data, PET is considered a powerful and versatile imaging tool in modern medicine.
