PET – advanced nuclear imaging technology for medicine

Positron emission tomography (PET) is currently the most advanced diagnostic imaging technology along with well-known techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT). Tremendous technical progress in engineering, imaging and radiopharmacy has provided the basis for impressive technological advances in the field of nuclear medicine over the past 50 years. Current nuclear medicine can be divided into 2 groups: the classic, which uses gamma-cameras for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, and the more modern PET technique. The clinical PET technique requires: (i) patient administration of the radiopharmaceutical labelled with a positron emitter, (ii) recording of the gamma radiation emitted from the patient’s body with a dedicated PET/ CT scanner, (iii) processing and analysis of recorded images. This article presents the basics of PET technology and research, and describes new technical trends introduced by the leading manufacturers of PET/CT scanners.