Author: Admin (207.175.253.---)
Date: 04-07-02 16:53
PET is Positron Emission Tomography. I did some research on it during my PhD and then later helped design a computer for the PET unit designed by Hamamatsu Photonics in Japan.
A PET scanner receives weak radiation emitted when chemicals decay as they are metabolized, and gives a graphical representation of what areas of the anatomy are most active. The one at Hamamatsu was big, just like a CAT scanner. There was a huge Cyclotron room right next to the PET, as the glucose they were using for testing had to be made radioactive within 20 minutes of use!
In the case you have referenced, the sarcoidosis patient showed problems with the mediastinum, an area of the brain, which was not functioning correctly. Unlike in cancer, where both sides of the mediastinum would most likely be affected, this patient was exhibiting asymettric metabolization.
PET is neat technology... It is definitely the best way to see a malfunctioning brain, but gives you little clue as to what is causing the malfunction. As the reference says, 15% of sarc patients referred to them have some observable abnormality (the research cautions this high number may be biased by the referral process). Based on the comments of patients posting on the sarc message boards I would agree with that number, as PET is a very sensitive test. However, what we really need is an explanation of why, and PET really gives us no information other than that an abnormality exists.
..trevor..
|
|
