Positron emission tomography - molecular imaging of biological processes

: Knuuti J

: 2004

: International Congress Series

: QUANTITATION IN BIOMEDICAL IMAGING WITH PET AND MRI

: INT CONGR SER

: 1265

: 248

: 254

: 7

: 0-444-51567-4

: 0531-5131

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ics.2004.06.014

Positron emission tomography (PET) is an unsurpassed method for imaging human biochemical and physiological processes in vivo. Unlimited number of natural substrates, substrate analogs and drugs can be labeled for use with PET. This labeling does not change their chemical or biological properties. Minute amounts of biologically active compounds are labeled with positron emitting radionuclides and then administered to the subjects. The temporal and spatial distribution of these tracers within the body is measured with PET. PET combined with tracer kinetic models measures blood flow, membrane transport, metabolism, ligand-receptor interactions and recently also gene expression noninvasively and quantitatively in humans. PET has been used extensively to study cellular metabolism in the brain, heart and malignant tumors. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.