Positron Emission Tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that allows visualization of physiological processes from outside the body. PET is a particularly useful tool because it measures functional changes in the body, which often precede the structural changes detected by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or conventional X-rays. PET instruments that are dedicated to the imaging of humans or of animals as small as rats or mice have been developed. The latter are used for basic science research and clinical drug development, and the former are commonly used for both research purposes and common clinical indications. This entry focuses on the fundamental principles of clinical PET imaging and applications of PET in neurology and psychiatry. It identifies brain PET patterns associated with ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles