Positron emission tomograph (PET) is a medical imaging procedure that provides unique information about how an organ or system in the body is functioning. PET scans are mainly used to assess cancers, neurological diseases and cardiovascular disease. PET scan involves the injection of a small amount of a ‘positron-emitting’ radioactive material, often referred to as a radiopharmaceutical. Images of the body are then taken using a PET scanner. The camera used is able to detect emissions coming from the injected radiopharmaceutical. The specialised computer attached to the camera manipulates the image creating two and three-dimensional images of the area that is being examined. Areas where the injected radiopharmaceutical gathers appear much ‘brighter’
The photons are then tracked by a tomographic scintillation counter, and the information is processed by a computer to provide both image and data on blood flow and metabolic processes within bodily tissues. PET scans are particularly useful for diagnosing brain tumor and the effects of strokes on the brain, along with various mental illnesses. They are also used in brain research and in mapping of brain functions.
Positron Emission Tomography is a scanning technique that allows us to measure in detail the functioning of distinct areas of the human brain while the patient is comfortable, conscious and alert. PET represents a type of functional imaging, unlike X-rays or CT scans, which show only structural details within the brain. The differences between these types of imaging don’t end there.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a functional imaging modality that has shown promise in tumor depiction, but it is unable to provide detailed high spatial resolution images (5-7).
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) imaging has many uses in today’s world. Your doctor may order a PET scan to analyze blood flow, oxygen intake, the metabolism of your organs and tissues. It’s an invaluable apparatus, to help acquire the precise whereabouts of a tumor. Unfortunately, to acquire a good PET exam a patient must stay perfectly still while taking 80-120 minutes. This is a daunting task for patients that cannot control their movements. Fortunately, with the use of new technology, a group of researchers are toiling on a device that will enable patients to receive a PET exam of their head.
PPE are very important tools in the medical field. The observing RN should stop the exiting RN and explain proper PPE protocol. The exiting RN could have had a temporary lapse in judgment. The observing RN can simply reiterate the importance of PPE. An in service should be held for nursing staff on the importance of PPE protocol. The exiting RN should be made aware that the patient and staff were put at risk. The observing RN should make sure that further contamination does not take place. The observing RN can also go over facility protocol for isolation with the exiting RN. Nurses can develop short cuts that can be detrimental to staff and patients. It is important for RN supervisors to constantly emphasize the details of the job. Co-workers
A computed tomography scan provides more detail images than a chest x-ray by creating cross sectional images, this images can help identify enlarge organs or lymph nodes in the neck, chest, abdomen and chest (American Cancer Society). During this test the patient is lays on a flat table that moves in and out of a donut shaped scanner that takes images in different angles. Sometimes contrast medium may be used to highlight abnormal areas in the body. If contrast medium is used, it is the nurse’s responsibility to establish a patent IV, check for iodine allergies, check for kidney function due to contrast nephrotoxicity, check for delay allergies after the procedure, and advise the patient to drink plenty of fluids to eliminate contrast (Leeuwen, Anne 2015). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is only used when spread to the spinal cord and brain are suspected (American Cancer Society). Positron emission tomography (PET) scan uses an IV contrast called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), this contrast is a form of glucose, and because cancer cells reproduce quickly they need more glucose, which is why this contrast highlights the areas where abnormal cells are (Cancer Society). PET scans can be used to monitor how well patients are responding to treatment therapies, they can help identify areas of the body with lymphoma that may appear clear in other tests such as biopsies or CT scans allowing patients to
Keywords: Positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, bioluminescent, fluorescence
All patients were following low carb diet two days prior to the examination day and came in the examination day fasting 6 hours prior to the administration of radiotracer. They purpose of let them follow a low carb diet is that a glucose level less than 140mg/dl was required. An injection of 18F-FDG (8 MBq/Kg) was given to patients. Then, CT images were acquired. After that, PET scan was performed.
The following are some examples that are detected by this diagnostic tool: cancer, brain disorders, heart problems and problems in the central nervous system (Healthline, 2015). One of the brain disorders that PET can detect is Alzheimer’s disease. The patient would be advised not to eat or drink anything for 4-6 hours prior to the exam. The patient is injected with a dye called a radioisotope to demonstrate the function of a body part to rule out a diagnosis. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is the most common radioisotope used in PET. After the patient is injected, the radioisotope is absorbed by the tissues and organs (Dolson, L., 2001). When PET is used as a diagnostic tool for cancer, the clinician is then able to see how the malignant tumor is developing or if it has moved to other areas. It also allows the clinician to see how the malignancy is reacting to chemotherapy. PET scans show problems at the cellular level, therefore giving your clinician the best possible view of complex systemic diseases (Healthline, 2015). The tracers are normally out of the patient’s system within two days after a PET scan, but the patient should drink plenty of fluids afterward to help speed up the process of expelling the tracer.
The radioisotope Fluorine-18 is a radioactive isotope of fluorine. Fluorine has nine protons and ten neutrons, fluorine-18 has only nine neutrons which is less than normal. F-18 produces gamma radiation in the body, gamma rays are electromagnetic waves with an extremely high frequency, unlike alpha and beta radiation, gamma has no mass, and travel at a speed of light with the ability to penetrate human skin, only stop by lead. F-18 is used as a tracer in nuclear medicine imaging, specifically positron emission tomography (PET) scans. PET scans are used to provide precise and sophisticated three dimensional images for diagnosis of diseases within the body such as cancer. During its creation in the cyclotron particle accelerator, F-18 is combined
Fluorine-18 is the most frequently used radioisotope in Positron Emission Tomography and the radiopharmaceutical industry. “PET is imaging for cancer. Fluorine-18 is synthesised into fluorodeoxyglucose for PET.” (Wikipedia). It is a nuclear medicine functional imaging technique that is used to observe metabolic processes in the body as an aid to the diagnosis of disease.
The last imaging method I will talk about is the positron emission tomography or PET scan. A PET scan is an imaging test that allows your doctor to check for diseases in your body. This scan does in fact use radioactive tracers in the special dye that they inject into the veins in your arm. Your doctor may want to do a PET scan to check blood flow, oxygen intake, and metabolism. They can also detect cancer, heart problems, and brain disorders. Unlike a CT, or MRI a PET scan can show the problems at a cellular level. This gives the best view for diseases like brain tumors, seizures, and memory disorders. Whenever the scan detects cancer it can show how the cancer metabolizes, whether its spread, or has moved to new areas. The PET scan can also show if the tumor is responding to chemo or not (Krans, Brian).
If you’ve never heard of a PET-CT scanner, you’re not alone. PET-CT scanners are integrated scanning devices that combine images from a positron emission tomography (PET) scan with a computed tomography (CT) scan. When the scans are performed at the same time and with the same machine, they produce detailed pictures of tissues and organs that also reveal any abnormal activity. With a PET-CT scan, doctors can identify cancers and determine their stage.
The PET/MRI technology, which was first introduced into the clinical setting in 2007, is a hybrid imaging technology that incorporates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) soft tissue morphological imaging and
Tissue that contains a lot of hydrogen, which happens bounteously in the human body as water, creates a splendid picture, while tissue that contains practically zero hydrogen (e.g., bone) seems dark. The brilliance of a MRI picture is encouraged by the utilization of a difference operator, for example, gadodiamide, which patients ingest or are infused with preceding the methodology. These operators can enhance