From PET to PET/CT

Abstract

In the decade since the previous edition of this chapter was written, positron emission tomography (PET), and more recently PET/computed tomography (CT), has continued to grow in prominence within the field of nuclear medicine imaging. Surveys conducted by the market research firm IVM (Greenbelt, MD) show an average annual increase of 10.4 % in the number of PET and PET/CT studies performed between 2005 and 2008 (IMV Medical Information Division. PET Market summary report. http://www.imvinfo.com/index.aspx?sec=pet&sub=dis&itemid=200076. 2008). The trend, however, has seen a decline in recent years. This overall growth in utilization is reflected in the growing number of peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations at international nuclear medicine meetings on PET and PET/CT imaging. The advantages of PET/CT over dedicated PET imaging (described below) have also drastically changed the characteristics of the scanner models that are available from manufacturers. As of the middle of the first decade of 2000, none of the three principal manufacturers of PET scanners (GE Healthcare, Siemens Medical Solutions, and Philips Medical Systems) still offered a dedicated PET system; only hybrid PET/CT systems were being manufactured.