PET Imaging Technology

Introduction to PET Scans

• PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans allow doctors to see the brain at work in 3D using special radioactive tracers.

The Process of Creating Tracers

• Tracers are not shelf items; they are custom-made in nearby labs.
• Dr. Miller: Responsible for making tracers.
• Uses a Cyclotron to produce radioactivity by smashing high-speed particles into atoms, transforming them into radioactive atoms.
• The radioactive atoms need to be used quickly before they decay back to regular atoms.

Formation of the Tracer

• Tracers are biological molecules tailored to specific functions (e.g., sugar, protein, hormone).
• Special chemical reactions are conducted to create the tracer from a drug used in the brain.
• Tracers undergo strict quality control for purity and functionality.

PET Scan Procedure

• The tracer is injected into the patient’s bloodstream.
• As the tracer is absorbed by the brain, the radioactive atom loses its radioactivity, emitting a positron.
• Positrons (positively charged) collide with electrons (negatively charged), annihilating each other and releasing gamma rays.
• The PET scanner detects these gamma rays to calculate the tracer's location in the body.
• Thousands of events per second are processed to reveal brain activity in 3D.

Applications and Benefits of PET

• PET scans can detect cancer, test heart function, and track Alzheimer’s among other uses.
• PET is unique in revealing real-time brain activity.
• Dave's scan shows his brain is functioning well, and his radioactivity levels will return to normal soon.

Conclusion

• The ongoing work of developing new tracers continues to aid in medical diagnostics and treatment.