Clinical significance of positron emission tomography in neuromedicine. A position paper on the results of an interdisciplinary consensus conference

To date, positron emission tomography (PET) is the most powerful method for the in-vivo investigation of human brain metabolism. Besides extensive app lication of this technology in the neurosciences, PET is also being increas ingly used as a clinical tool. However, despite its acceptance in clinical practice, a major obstacle is its high costs. The present article reviews t he literature on the clinical use of PET in neurology, neurosurgery,and psy chiatry in order to substantiate the clinical indications for PET in these specialties as established by an interdisciplinary conference.