The clinical application of PET/CT: a contemporary review.
The combination of positron emission tomography (PET) scanners and x-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners into a single PET/CT scanner has resulted in significant improvements in the diagnosis and staging of disease, particularly in the field of oncology. A decade on from the publication of the details of the first PET/CT scanner, we review the technology and applications of the modality. We examine the design aspects of combining two different imaging types into a single scanner, and the artefacts produced such as attenuation correction, motion and CT truncation artefacts. The article also provides a discussion and literature review of the applications of PET/CT to date, covering detection of tumours, radiotherapy treatment planning, patient management, and applications external to the field of oncology.
Brady
Z
Z
Radiology Department, The Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Australia.
Taylor
M L
ML
Haynes
M
M
Whitaker
M
M
Mullen
A
A
Clews
L
L
Partridge
M
M
Hicks
R J
RJ
Trapp
J V
JV
D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D013382:Subtraction Technique / Q000639:trends*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*