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Basics of Positron Emission Topography Scanning

· Health,PET,PET Scanning
PET Scanner

As a clinician and researcher in the field of radiation oncology, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci has investigated and evaluated a number of methodologies for use in cancer treatment situations. A radiation oncologist with the MD Anderson/Presbyterian Health System, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci co-authored an article that discusses positron emission topography as a determiner of volume in lung tumor targets.

Positron emission topography, or PET, uses a radioactive tracing material to create a visual representation of tissue and organ function. It enables physicians to detect changes in function that may be indicative of disease, often before other imaging tests can produce positive results. Because it can be extremely effective in identifying tumor cells by their increased metabolic rate, oncologists often use PET to evaluate the growth, spread, or recurrence of certain cancers.

PET works by introducing the tracer element by inhalation, swallowing, or injection, depending on the location targeted for evaluation. The element collects where chemical activities are higher, often because of the presence of disease. The person then lies on a narrow table that slides into a large scanning machine, which contains a camera that identifies emissions from the tracer.
The PET scanner uses this information to create pictures of the organ or tissue in question. In some cases, the machine may simultaneously take computed topography scans to create a more detailed image. In interpreting the data and pictures available, the radiation oncologist can begin to determine the next steps in the patient's treatment.