PET-CT: Evolving Role in 3-D Radiation Therapy

Traditional imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), have high spatial resolution for changes in the anatomy or structure of organs, but are not very useful for detecting early biochemical changes. Conversely, positron emission tomography (PET) relies on changes in molecular biology to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Technology in cancer research & treatment 2006-04, Vol.5 (2), p.101-107
Main Author: Levy, Richard P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Medical sciences
Neoplasms - pathology
Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Positron-Emission Tomography
Radiation therapy and radiosensitizing agent
Radiopharmaceuticals
Radiotherapy Dosage
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
Radiotherapy, Conformal - methods
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Treatment with physical agents
Treatment. General aspects
Tumors
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Summary:Traditional imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), have high spatial resolution for changes in the anatomy or structure of organs, but are not very useful for detecting early biochemical changes. Conversely, positron emission tomography (PET) relies on changes in molecular biology to identify the earliest stages of disease but, if used alone, has sub-optimal spatial delineation. However, computer-assisted fused-image and/or single-machine integrated PET-CT can show early biochemical changes with improved anatomic resolution, often before there is any structural change. This approach enables the clinician to view and assess the patient's body from a biochemical perspective. In an era of rapidly evolving 3D conformal radiation treatment, accurate target delineation is a crucial factor in optimization of clinical results. This paper reviews some of the basic-science underpinnings of PET-CT, and highlights some important findings in the early clinical work thus far performed.
ISSN:1533-0346
1533-0338
DOI:10.1177/153303460600500204