PET Radiopharmaceuticals- comprehensive overview

Course overview

This course will cover definition of the term PET and explain the basic imaging principle of coincidence detection; will explain how PET is different than other imaging modalities; will explain how PET radiopharmaceuticals display organ function rather than anatomy; will define the risks, benefits and clinical value of PET; will list all PET radiopharmaceuticals commercially available and their physical characteristics; will cover the safety of these drugs; will compare the radiation dose of 18F-FDG to that of other commonly used radiopharmaceuticals; will display the chemical structures of FDG and glucose; will discuss reimbursement issues and approved indications for 18F-FDG and the use of this drug in oncology, neurology, and cardiology. And will discuss properties of the new PET Radiopharmaceuticals, including those requiring an on-site cyclotron for production and preparation.