PET-CT 02/02 Flashcards
What does PET stand for?
Position emission tomography
Why do we use PET?
PET provides information on the metabolic function of organs or tissues by detecting how cells process certain compounds such as glucose.
What is the aim of radiotracers within radionuclide imaging?
To localise their distribution as accurately as possible within the patient by the external detection of radiation emitted from the patient involving gamma rays, annihilation photons or bremsstrahlung radiation.
What is the main advantage of radionuclide imaging?
It is very sensitive to detect very small amounts of tracer and to demonstrate the function of cells, tissues and organs.
What does CT stand for?
xray computer-tomography
When is a radiotracer produced?
A radiotracer is produced when a suitable radionuclide is combined with a pharmaceutical compound or a molecule that targets a particular biological function or process.
How is the behaviour of the radio labelled compound monitored?
By radiation detectors external to the body, allowing the non invasive measurement of in vivo biochemical function, aspects of tissue function and dynamic biological processes.
What is a radionuclide?
An unstable isotope of an element that will spontaneously decay by the emission of particles and/or electromagnetic radiation.
What are the 3 most common emissions from radionuclides?
Alpha and beta particles + gamma rays
How many types of beta particle are there and what are they?
Beta plus (𝛽+) [positron] and beta minus (𝛽-) [beta emission]
What does beta emission (𝛽-) involve?
The decay of some neutron rich isotopes by converting a neutron into a proton, emitting beta minus particles
What does position emission (𝛽+) involve?
The decay of some proton rich isotopes by converting a proton into a neutron, emitting a positron
Which emission is important in diagnosis?
Positron (𝛽+) emission (very important for functional imaging in diagnosis)
What rate does the radioisotope fluorine-18 decay at?
t1⁄2 = 109 min
What happens when 𝛽+ travels in tissue?
It rapidly loses energy and interacts (annihilates) with an electron as its final interaction, producing 2 x 0.511 MeV gamma ray photons
Which emission is the only one with sufficiently penetrating characteristics that enable them to be detected externally to the patient?
Gamma rays
What are the 2 branches of radionuclides?
One uses a relatively limited number of radionuclides that emit gamma rays and is referred to as single-photon imaging.
The other uses radionuclides that decay by emitting positrons - referred to as PET.
Is a positron itself penetrating?
No