Description:

Covers all aspects of positron emission tomography (PET), including issues relating to implementation and reimbursement for PET scans, clinical indications for PET imaging, biochemistry of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), clinical aspects of FDG imaging, new PET radiopharmaceuticals, and PET/CT fusion imaging. Prerequisite: Acceptance into program.

Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Discuss in detail the use of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in oncologic imaging, including the biochemistry of its uptake, organs with normal uptake, patient preparation and FDG administration, and meaning of imaging results.
• Define and analyze factors affecting the standardized uptake value (SUV) for FDG imaging, and briefly discuss the application of the SUV to other radiopharmaceuticals.
• Discuss the use of and issues surrounding the operation of combined PET/CT imaging systems, and the advantages of co-registered imaging.
• Describe positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the skeleton, brain, and heart.
• Discuss economic issues related to PET imaging, including reimbursement, demonstration of efficacy, and starting up a PET practice.
• Discuss the application of PET to basic physiologic research, new drug research, and gene therapy.
• Dissect, explain, and critically analyze an article on a PET clinical research study.