Positron emission tomography

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a method for determining biochemical and physiological processes in vivo in a quantitative way by using radiopha rmaceuticals labelled with positron emitting radionuclides as C-11, N-13, O -15 and F-18 and by measuring the annihilation radiation using a coincidenc e technique. This includes also the measurement of the pharmacokinetics of labelled drugs and the measurement of the effects of drugs on metabolism. A lso deviations of normal metabolism can be measured and insight in biologic al processes responsible for diseases can be obtained.