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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 10/2003

01-10-2003 | Review Article

PET/CT: a new imaging technology in nuclear medicine

Authors: Heiko Schöder, Yusuf E. Erdi, Steven M. Larson, Henry W. D. Yeung

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 10/2003

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Abstract

This review discusses the technical background of combined PET and CT and considers the clinical applications of PET/CT imaging. Questions addressed include: Is PET/CT superior to PET imaging alone? If so, in which patient populations and in what respect? Can PET/CT imaging affect patient management? Can PET/CT be practiced economically? While much work remains to be done, the available data clearly suggest that PET/CT decreases imaging time per patient and, even for the experienced reader, significantly reduces the number of equivocal PET interpretations. PET/CT also has the ability to improve accuracy of PET image interpretation and to affect clinical decision making, thereby improving patient management. The nuclear medicine community should approach this new technology with an open mind and focus on its clinical usefulness. The decision regarding whether PET/CT should be part of the equipment in a given nuclear medicine or radiology practice largely depends on the specific patient population. It is concluded that present skepticism concerning combined PET/CT will subside once critics of this new modality have had the opportunity to clearly see on images its many advantages compared with either PET alone or conventional image fusion approaches.
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Metadata
Title
PET/CT: a new imaging technology in nuclear medicine
Authors
Heiko Schöder
Yusuf E. Erdi
Steven M. Larson
Henry W. D. Yeung
Publication date
01-10-2003
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 10/2003
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-003-1299-6

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