positroniemissiotomografian

Positroniemissiotomografia, often abbreviated as PET, is a nuclear medicine imaging technique used to observe metabolic processes or other physiological functions in the body. It involves the administration of a small amount of a radioactive tracer, typically attached to a biologically active molecule, into the body. This tracer accumulates in specific tissues or organs based on their metabolic activity. As the radioactive tracer 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 timing and location of these detected gamma ray events, a computer can reconstruct a three-dimensional image showing the distribution of the tracer and thus the metabolic activity of the tissues. Commonly used tracers include those that mimic glucose, allowing visualization of areas with high glucose metabolism, such as tumors or active brain regions. PET scans are widely employed in oncology for detecting cancer, staging the disease, assessing treatment response, and in neurology for diagnosing conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. It can also be used in cardiology to evaluate blood flow to the heart muscle.