title: [The PET, Past and Future].
abstract: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a unique nuclear medicine test using positron emitters such as 18F and 11C. In PET tests, various kinds of functional aspects of human bodies can be evaluated by using compounds labeled by these positron emitters. Recently, combined scanners of PET and anatomical imaging modalities such as CT and MRI have been developed and functional information with anatomical location can be easily obtained, increasing the usefulness of PET tests. PET tests are now essential imaging tools to diagnose various kinds of disease with functional abnormalities. In the field of oncology, 18F-fluorodeoxy glucose PET tests are routinely used in clinical practice under health insurance. In the field of neurology, PET tests are actively used to investigate cerebral function by labeled neurotransmitters and so on. Currently, brain PET tests to detect beta-amyloid are applied to the diagnosis of dementia. In the field of cardiology, cardiac perfusion and myocardial metabolism are quantitatively measured by using PET and obtained results have successfully revealed the pathogenesis of intractable cardiac diseases. Future technical advances will enhance the usefulness of PET tests more and more.
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18