subject: Contribution of positron emission tomography in pleural disease [print this page] Contribution of positron emission tomography in pleural disease
Positron emission tomography (PET) is anuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in the body. The system detects pairs ofgamma rays emitted indirectly by apositron-emittingradionuclide (tracer), which is introduced into the body on a biologically active molecule. Images of tracer concentration in3-dimensional or4-dimensional space (the 4th dimension being time) within the body are then reconstructed by computer analysis. In modern scanners, this reconstruction is often accomplished with the aid of aCT X-ray scan performed on the patient during the same session, in the same machine.
PET is also used in pre-clinical studies using animals, where it allows repeated investigations into the same subjects. This is particularly valuable in cancer research, as it results in an increase in the statistical quality of the data (subjects can act as their own control) and substantially reduces the numbers of animals required for a given study.
Is PET better than CT scan?
Positron emission tomography (PET) now plays a clear role in oncology, especially in chest tumours. We discuss the value of metabolic imaging in characterising pleural pathology in the light of our own experience and review the literature.
PET is particularly useful in characterising malignant pleural pathologies and is a factor of prognosis in mesothelioma. Metabolic imaging also provides clinical information for staging lung cancer, in researching the primary tumour in metastatic pleurisy and in monitoring chronic or recurrent pleural pathologies.
PET should therefore be considered as a useful tool in the diagnosis of liquid or solid pleural pathologies.
