PETpildid

PETpildid is a term that refers to images or photographs taken using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a type of nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces three-dimensional images of metabolic processes inside the body. It works by detecting pairs of gamma rays emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide (a radiotracer) that is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule. These molecules accumulate in areas of higher metabolic activity.

The radiotracer, typically a radioactive isotope of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, or fluorine, is attached to a biologically active molecule such as glucose. This labeled molecule is then injected into the patient, inhaled, or swallowed. As the radiotracer decays, it emits positrons. When a positron encounters an electron in the body, they annihilate each other, producing two gamma rays that travel in opposite directions. PET scanners detect these pairs of gamma rays.

By analyzing the paths and timing of these detected gamma rays, a computer can reconstruct a detailed map of where the radiotracer has accumulated. Areas that show a high concentration of the radiotracer indicate regions of increased metabolic activity. This information is crucial in various medical fields, particularly in oncology for detecting and staging cancer, in neurology for understanding brain disorders like Alzheimer's and epilepsy, and in cardiology for assessing heart disease. The resulting PETpildid provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic information that can guide treatment decisions.