Radionuclide technologies are now actively used in nuclear medicine and modern diagnostic procedures. One of the most informative methods of radiation research is positron emission tomography. The advantage of such a diagnosis is the possibility to build a three-dimensional model of biological processes and internal organs.
What is emission-positron tomography?
The essence of the method lies in the properties of positrons (particles with a positive charge). They have different absorptive capacities in contact with high-energy radiation.
Before positron emission tomography or PET, a radioactive substance is injected intravenously, usually it is fluorine-18, but sometimes carbon-11, oxygen-15 and nitrogen-13 are used. For some time a person needs to stay in a state of rest, so that positron-emitting isotopes are distributed in the body. After this, the patient is placed in a special apparatus, similar to an MRI, where his body is exposed to completely harmless radiation. If there are any disturbances in metabolic processes or foreign neoplasms, the pathological regions accumulate more radioactive material, which is recorded by computer equipment. Visually visible inflammatory processes, and infected differ from healthy organs in color.
Where is positron emission tomography used?
Basically, the described technology is used in the diagnosis of cancer. PET can detect cancer at the earliest or zero stage, when there is still no symptomatology. Predominantly, tomography is used to detect tumors:
- cervical;
- light ;
- prostate gland;
- stomach.
The technique provides monitoring of neoplasms in the size from 1 mm, and also diagnostics of processes of metastasis. It is worth noting that tomography helps determine how effective chemotherapy is. The procedure performed after the course of medications reflects a decrease in the activity of cancer cells, their growth and development tendencies.
In addition, PET is used in cardiology for recording coronary heart disease, circulatory disorders, narrowing of the coronary arteries, the consequences of heart attack and shunting, stenosis. The technology provides visualization of the cardiac muscle in three projections in 60 sections.
Also positron emission computer tomography of the brain is actively used. Diagnosis by means of PET allows to detect:
- focal neoplasms;
- cancer;
- dementia;
- epilepsy;
- Alzheimer's disease;
- depressive disorders;
- vascular pathologies;
- consequences of stroke , ischemic attack.
As medical practice shows, if you do positron emission tomography in time, you can develop a correct and appropriate treatment regimen, which is often diametrically different from
Particularly noteworthy is the use of PET in neurology. Alzheimer's disease in its initial form is well amenable to therapy, and the diagnosed diagnosis will help significantly limit the spread of pathology. The early onset of treatment provides a reduction in the rate of death of brain tissue and the cessation of the functioning of some of its areas.