Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 11/04/2014 14:49:30
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[img float=right]/forum/copies/RTEmagicC_TimFryerImg.png.png[/img]Jack Oldbury interviews Dr Tim Fryer from the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre about PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and its role in imaging the brain at work. We find out what awaits us in the future of imaging, as well as exploring how PET works and its role in neuroimaging and oncology.
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Interesting and a good review of Positron Emission Tomography as applicable to the brain. However, being an American I had to get my Australian accent filter out to understand the heavily accented Interviewer. ;)
I have had CTs, MRIs and Pet Scans during cancer diagnosis and treatment.
For the PET scan ...I was injected with radioactive fluorine -18 solution ( I guess produced locally in a cyclotron) with a half-live of a couple of hours.... I was concerned... Gads; gammas rays shooting out of my body. I thought , well, it they are annihilating electrons in my body, then shouldn't I become positively charged? ;D
Not cheap by the way, $ 8500 per pop. I believe it was coupled with CT, can't remember.
The physiological effects were interesting. I believe they told me not to get too close to people for the day....Like no kissing, I guess....(and I tried not to pee on the grass ;D )
It was interesting that I could feel the heat emanating from my body (somewhat aggravating) when I tried to get to sleep that night.
With God's grace I got through 6 weeks of radiation treatment and am completely cancer free today.
Interesting experience, but don't want to go through it again.
BFC