Topic 6 - Radioactivity - Pet Scanners Flashcards
What does PET stand for in medical imaging?
Positron emission tomography
PET is a type of nuclear medicine imaging.
What is inserted into the body for a PET scan?
Radioactive tracer
The tracer is essential for detecting radiation emitted from within the body.
How is the radioactive tracer used in a PET scan?
It is tagged to a desired chemical and travels in the body where that chemical travels
Common chemicals include glucose and ammonia.
What does the PET scanner record?
Where the tracer emits radiation
This radiation is detected to create images of the body.
What type of visualization does a PET scan produce?
A live 3D visualization of the body
This allows for real-time analysis of metabolic processes.
What are some medical applications of PET scans?
To show treatment effectiveness, diagnose cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s
PET scans are valuable in evaluating various neurological and oncological conditions.
What is the half-life of the isotope used in PET scanners?
110 minutes
Why is the isotope used in PET scanners made locally?
Because it cannot be stored for long before it decays
Fill in the blank: The isotope used in PET scanners has a half-life of _______.
110 minutes
True or False: The tracer used in PET scanners can be stored for long periods.
False
