PET Radiopharmaceuticals

PET (positron emission tomography) is a powerful imaging technique that can provide quantitative information on the distribution of positron emitter labeled radiopharmaceuticals (PET radiopharmaceuticals) in the body. Positrons (ß+) are positively charged beta particles. They are emitted when the atom is proton rich. A positron has only a transient existence. After losing all of its kinetic energy, it interacts with an electron and is annihilated. Both the mass of positron and electron are converted to energy during annihilation and two 511 KeV photons are emitted at a 180angle to each other. The PET is based on the coincidence detection of these two photons. Coincidence detection is a powerful method enhancing sensitivity and dynamic-imaging capabilities of PET. PET camera systems contain a ring of detectors that encircles the patient. The data collected over many angles around the body axis of the patient are used to reconstruct the image of the activity distribution in slice or tomographic form.