Diagnostic Imaging Applications (PET and SPECT)
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals act as "tracers" that allow doctors to see the functional processes inside a patient's body rather than just the anatomy. The two most common imaging modalities in the UK are Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single-Photon Emission Computed tomography (SPECT).
In a typical PET scan, a patient is injected with 18F-FDG (a radioactive sugar). Because cancer cells consume sugar at a higher rate than healthy cells, the tracer accumulates in tumors, which then "glow" on the scan. SPECT imaging uses isotopes like Technetium-99m to evaluate organ function, such as blood flow to the heart or the structural integrity of the skeleton, providing vital data for cardiology and orthopedics.
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