PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED

TOMOGRAPHY
What is the purpose of single photon emission computed
tomography?
A single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)
scan makes your doctor analyze your body's organs,
tissue and
bones.
A SPECT scan is a type of nuclear imaging test, which means it
uses a radioactive substance and a special camera to create 3D
pictures.27 Jul 2022
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SPECT
• Single photon emission tomography (SPET)
• SPET uses tracers labelled with isotopes which
decay with the emission of a single photon.
Because collimators (which necessarily absorb
part of the emitted radiation) must be
employed to define the direction of travel of
detected photons, SPET is intrinsically less
efficient than PET.

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Photon Emission Tomography

• SPET, like PET, can be used to measure the

physiological response of the brain to
pharmacological doses of antipsychotics, or to
map the distribution of trace amounts of
labelled antipsychotic drugs in the brain.
• From:
Antipsychotic Drugs and their Side-Effects, 199
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Related terms:

• Positron Emission Tomography

• Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography
• Radioactive Tracer
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Therapeutic Procedure
• Brain
• Patient
• Inpatient
• Computer Assisted Tomography
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Single photon emission tomography

• Single photon emission tomography (SPECT)

measures regional blood flow, whereas
fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography
(FDG-PET) examines glucose metabolism in the
brain.
• The deficit pattern in posterior cingulate,
posterior precuneus and temporal lobe regions
helps to differentiate AD from controls with a
sensitivity and specificity rate of 90% and 70%,
respectively (Jagust et al., 2007).
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What is positron emission tomography (PET)

• Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of

nuclear medicine procedure that measures

metabolic activity of the cells of body tissues.

• PET is actually a combination of nuclear medicine

and biochemical analysis..

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PET
• Used mostly in patients with brain or heart
conditions and cancer.
• PET helps to visualize the biochemical changes
taking place in the body, such as the
metabolism (the process by which cells
change food into energy after food is digested
and absorbed into the blood) of the heart
muscle

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PET

• PET differs from other nuclear medicine

examinations in that PET detects metabolism
within body tissues, whereas other types of nuclear
medicine examinations detect the amount of a
radioactive substance collected in body tissue in a
certain location to examine the tissue's function.

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• Since PET is a type of nuclear medicine procedure,
this means that a tiny amount of a radioactive
substance, called a radiopharmaceutical
(radionuclide or radioactive tracer), is used during
the procedure to assist in the examination of the
tissue under study. Specifically, PET studies evaluate
the metabolism of a particular organ or tissue, so
that information about the physiology (functionality)
and anatomy (structure) of the organ or tissue is
evaluated, as well as its biochemical properties
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• Thus, PET may detect biochemical changes in
an organ or tissue that can identify the onset
of a disease process before anatomical
changes related to the disease can be seen
with other imaging processes such as
computed tomography (CT) or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI).
• PET is most often used by oncologists

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• PET is also used by neurologists and
neurosurgeons, and cardiologists (doctors
specializing in the treatment of the heart).
However, as advances in PET technologies
continue, this procedure is beginning to be
used more widely in other areas.
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USE

• PET may also be used in conjunction with

other diagnostic tests, such as computed
tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) to provide more definitive
information about malignant (cancerous)
tumors and other lesions.
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CT..

• Newer technology combines PET and CT into

one scanner, known as PET/CT.
• PET/CT shows particular promise in the
diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer,
evaluating epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and
coronary artery disease.
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How does PET work?
(PROCEDURE)

• PET works by using a scanning device (a machine

with a large hole at its center) to detect photons

(subatomic particles) emitted by a radionuclide

in the organ or tissue being examined.

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• The radionuclides used in PET scans are made by

attaching a radioactive atom to chemical

substances that are used naturally by the

particular organ or tissue during its metabolic

process.
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• . For example, in PET scans of the brain, a
radioactive atom is applied to glucose (blood
sugar) to create a radionuclide called
fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), because the brain
uses glucose for its metabolism.
• FDG is widely used in PET scanning
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• The radionuclide is administered into a vein
through an intravenous (IV) line.

• Next, the PET scanner slowly moves over the

part of the body being examined. Positrons are
emitted by the breakdown of the radionuclide.
• Gamma rays called annihilation photons are
created when positrons collide with electrons
near the decay event.
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• The scanner then detects the annihilation photons,
which arrive at the detectors in coincidence at 180
degrees apart from one another.
• A computer analyzes those gamma rays and uses
the information to create an image map of the
organ or tissue being studied.
• The amount of the radionuclide collected in the
tissue affects how brightly the tissue appears on the
image, and indicates the level of organ or tissue
function.
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Why is PET performed?

• In general, PET scans may be used to evaluate

organs and/or tissues for the presence of
disease or other conditions.
• PET may also be used to evaluate the function
of organs, such as the heart or brain.
• The most common use of PET is in the
detection of cancer and the evaluation of
cancer treatment.

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More specific reasons for PET scans include,
but are not limited to, the following:
• To diagnose dementias (conditions that involve
deterioration of mental function), such as Alzheimer's
disease, as well as other neurological conditions such as:
– Parkinson's disease. A progressive disease of the nervous
system in which a fine tremor, muscle weakness, and a
peculiar type of gait are seen.
– Huntington's disease. A hereditary disease of the nervous
system which causes increasing dementia, bizarre involuntary
movements, and abnormal posture.
– Epilepsy. A brain disorder involving recurrent seizures.
– Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

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• To locate the specific surgical site prior to surgical
procedures of the brain
• To evaluate the brain after trauma to detect
hematoma (blood clot), bleeding, and/or
perfusion (blood and oxygen flow) of the brain
tissue
• To detect the spread of cancer to other parts of
the body from the original cancer site
• To evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment
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• To evaluate the perfusion (blood flow) to the myocardium
(heart muscle) as an aid in determining the usefulness of a
therapeutic procedure to improve blood flow to the
myocardium
• To further identify lung lesions or masses detected on chest X-
ray and/or chest CT
• To assist in the management and treatment of lung cancer by
staging lesions and following the progress of lesions after
treatment
• To detect recurrence of tumors earlier than with other
diagnostic modalities
• Find an Imaging Location
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How is PET performed?

• PET scans can be done on an outpatient basis.

• It is also possible that some hospital inpatients may
undergo a PET examination for certain conditions.
• Although each facility may have specific protocols in
place, generally, a PET scan procedure follows this
process:
• The patient will be asked to remove any clothing,
jewelry, or other objects that may interfere with the
scan

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• If asked to remove clothing, the patient will be
given a gown to wear.
• The patient will be asked to empty his or her
bladder prior to the start of the procedure.
• One or 2 IV lines will be started in the hand or arm
for injection of the radionuclide.
• Certain types of scans of the abdomen or pelvis
may require that a urinary catheter be inserted into
the bladder to drain urine during the procedure.

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• In some cases, an initial scan may be performed
prior to the injection of the radionuclide, depending
on the type of study being done.
• The patient will be positioned on a padded table
inside the scanner.
• The radionuclide will be injected into the IV.
• The radionuclide will be allowed to concentrate in
the organ or tissue for about 30 to 60 minutes. The
patient will remain in the facility during this time.

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• After the radionuclide has been absorbed for
the appropriate length of time, the scan will
begin. The scanner will move slowly over the
body part being studied.
• When the scan has been completed, the IV
line will be removed.
• If a urinary catheter has been inserted, it will
be removed.

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END
• E N D

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