Positron Emission Tomography/ Computed Tomography (PET/CT)

Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is an advanced molecular imaging technique that combines functional and anatomical information in a single examination. This powerful diagnostic tool is used across multiple medical specialties including oncology, cardiology, neurology, and for detecting infection and inflammation.

Radioactive Tracers Available

Our centre employs a comprehensive range of specialised radioactive tracers, each tailored for specific clinical applications:

• F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is our most commonly used tracer with versatile applications including tumour detection and staging, infection imaging, assessment of heart muscle viability, and neurological conditions such as early dementia evaluation and investigation of refractory epilepsy.

• Ga-68 DOTATATE is specifically designed for imaging neuroendocrine tumours and other cancers that express somatostatin receptors, providing excellent visualisation of these specialised tumour types.

• Ga-68 PSMA ligand serves as our standard tracer for comprehensive prostate cancer imaging, offering superior detection and localisation of prostate cancer cells throughout the body.

• F-18 Flutemetamol (Vizamyl) enables amyloid imaging in the brain, particularly valuable for evaluating patients with suspected Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

• C-11 Acetate is utilised for hepatocellular carcinoma imaging, with particular effectiveness in detecting well-differentiated liver tumours that may not be visible with conventional FDG imaging.

• F-18 Fluoroethyltyrosine (FET) specialises in brain tumour imaging and is particularly useful for distinguishing between actual tumour progression and treatment-related changes following radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

• Ga-68 Exendin targets insulin-producing cells and is employed for detecting insulinomas and evaluating congenital hyperinsulinism in both adults and children.

• Ga-68 Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI) represents cutting-edge imaging technology that targets cancer-associated fibroblasts, proving particularly valuable in cancers with high stromal content where conventional tracers may be less effective.

• F-18 Fluorodopa (FDOPA) serves specialised applications including imaging of pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and medullary thyroid cancer, whilst also providing valuable information for evaluating Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Please refer to the PET/CT Advisory for more information.