Positron Emission Spectroscopy / Single Photon Emission Spectroscopy (PET/SPECT)

Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) of a wholebody positron emission tomography (PET) acquisition of a 79 kg weighting female after intravenous injection of 371 MBq of 18F-FDG. Image from Wikipedia

What is it?

In PET (Positrion Emission Tomography) and SPECT (Single Photon Emission Tomography), a biologically active substance is labeled with a radioactive isotope. By making 3D images of the distribution of the radioactivity over the body, it is possible to assess the distribution of the biological compound and the related biological activity over the whole body. PET (positron emission tomography) is most frequently used with FDG (18F-fludeoxyglucose) to image glucose metabolism, which is an indication of the localization and activity of cancer lesions over the body. However, a broad range of PET and SPECT (single-photon emission tomography) tracers exist for showing more specific processes such as tumor proliferation (fMISO, FLT), amyloid deposits, … In addition, it is possible to label the active compound under study and closely monitor its biodistribution in vivo.

Potential imaging biomarkers

• Biodistribution (pre-clinical)
• Pharmacokinetics
• Tumour metabolism, proliferation, …
• Angiogenesis
• Inflamation
• Neurological activity
• Neuroreceptor binding (dopamine, serotonin, opioid, …)
• Lung perfusion/ventilation
• Myocardial perfusion
• Bone scans
• ...