title: [Diagnostic use of positron emission tomography in France: from the coincidence gamma-camera to mobile hybrid PET/CT devices].
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a well-established medical imaging method. PET is increasingly used for diagnostic purposes, especially in oncology. The most widely used radiopharmaceutical is FDG, a glucose analogue. Other radiopharmaceuticals have recently been registered or are in development. We outline technical improvements of PET machines during more than a decade of clinical use in France. Even though image quality has improved considerably and PET-CT hybrid machines have emerged, spending per examination has remained remarkably constant. Replacement and maintenance costs have remained in the range of 170-190 Euros per examination since 1997, whether early CDET gamma cameras or the latest time-of-flight PET/CT devices are used. This is mainly due to shorter acquisition times and more efficient use of FDG New reimbursement rates for PET/CT are needed in France in order to favor regular acquisition of state-of-the-art devices. One major development is the coupling of PET and MR imaging.
authors: Hôpital Tenon, 4, rue de la Chine 75970 Paris cedex 20. jean-noel.talbot@tnn.aphp.fr
authors: Jean-Noël
authors: JN
authors: Talbot
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design / Q000191:economics; D005602:France; D015902:Gamma Cameras / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals