Positron emission tomography (PET)

Positron emission tomography is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging technique that uses small amounts of radioactive materials (radiotracers) to visualize and measure changes in metabolic processes, blood flow, regional chemical composition, and physiological activities in tissues and organs[1][2][3][5][7][8]. PET is commonly used in oncology, cardiology, and neurology for detecting and staging cancer, evaluating heart disease, diagnosing brain disorders, and monitoring response to therapy[1][4][5][6][7]. Radiolabeled tracers, such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), are injected into the bloodstream; the PET camera detects gamma rays emitted by tracers to produce cross-sectional images representing functional biological activity[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]. PET is not a drug, molecule, receptor, or endogenous protein, but a medical imaging modality.

Other names

PET scanPET imagingpositron emission tomography scan