What is single photon emission computed tomography used for?
A single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) scan lets your doctor analyze the function of some of your internal organs. A SPECT scan is a type of nuclear imaging test, which means it uses a radioactive substance and a special camera to create 3-D pictures.
What are the advantages of SPECT?
The main advantage of SPECT is the ability to view the reconstructed image in multiple planes and to separate overlapping structures. As much as a sixfold increase in image contrast can be obtained with SPECT.
What is the advantage of SPECT over PET?
While PET is more expensive in terms of purchasing equipment, SPECT radio tracers also have half-lives of up to six hours, allowing a lot of imaging time, while PET tracers only have a half-life of about 75 seconds. SPECT radio tracers are also much cheaper and more abundant than PET tracers, Dr. Jain said.
What is the emission that is used to obtain a CT scan?
Before your PET-CT scan, you will get an injection of a small amount of a radioactive sugar called fluorodeoxyglucose-18. This substance is sometimes called FGD-18, radioactive glucose, or a tracer.
What is a PET scan used for?
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.
What is a PET scan and what does it do?
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of your tissues and organs. The PET scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show both normal and abnormal metabolic activity.
What are the advantages of SPECT CT?
The main advantage of SPECT/CT is the increased specificity achieved through a more precise localization and characterization of functional findings. The improved diagnostic accuracy is also associated with greater diagnostic confidence and better inter-specialty communication.
What is the difference between SPECT and PET?
The main difference between SPECT and PET scans is the type of radiotracers used. While SPECT scans measure gamma rays, the decay of the radiotracers used with PET scans produce small particles called positrons. A positron is a particle with roughly the same mass as an electron but oppositely charged.
When do you use SPECT vs PET?
Which is better PET or SPECT?
For basic research, PET is the more flexible tool, because innovative tracers are more easily synthesised for PET than for SPECT. In addition, the spatial resolution of PET is better than that of SPECT – far better. This is due to the physical nature of nuclear decay of positrons.
How does positron emission tomography work?
What is the principle of PET?
The principle of positron emission tomography (PET) is that radiation emitted from a radiopharmaceutical injected intravenously into a patient is registered by external detectors positioned at different orientations.