Positron emission tomography
Summary
Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that provides both structural and functional information, in contrast to other imaging modalities which provide mostly structural information such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This chapter presents a collection of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET ( 18 F-FDG PET) images in malignant and inflammatory/infectious diseases. Patient preparation is critical to the quality of 18 F-FDG PET. The chapter also includes three examples of other more specific PET radiotracers recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. These are: 3,4-dihydroxy-6-8 F-fluoro-l-phenylalanine, an amino acid that resembles natural l-DOPA, the precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine; 68 Ga-DOTA-d-Phe(1)-Tyr(3)-octreotide; and 68 Ga-DOTA-Tyr3-Octreotate, which are somatostatin receptor analogs labeled at the positron emitter 68 Ga.