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PET scan
What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a type of medical scan that shows how parts of your body are functioning. PET imaging is different than X-ray imaging as it images the biological function and metabolic activity of organs, and not just their location and structure.
Before the scan, a small amount of a radioactive solution (most frequently in the form of sugar) is injected into the bloodstream. The amount of radiation used is small and carefully controlled, and the radioactive material naturally leaves the body over time. Because active cells (such as brain cells, heart muscle, or cancer cells) use more sugar, the solution accumulates more in these cells.
PET imaging is especially useful for:
- detecting (and managing) cancer
- evaluating brain disorders (such as degenerative disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson's disease)
- assessing heart function
- detecting infection and inflammation
- R&D, including new drug development.
How does a PET scanner work?
The PET scanner detects the decay of the positrons, which transform into two high-energy gamma rays during the decay process.
How are gamma rays converted into detectable signals?
The radiation is detected outside of the body using scintillating crystals, which have a high density and a high stopping power, and which translate the high energy of the gamma rays into lower energy visible light.
This visible light is in turn detected by highly sensitive photodetectors, either:
- silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs or MPPCs)
- photomultiplier tubes (PMTs).
How is a 3D PET image created?
Since the gammas are emitted back-to-back, they create a line throughout the body, measured by the two detectors that detect each individual gamma in the gamma-pair. When enough gamma-pairs have been detected, a 3D image of the body can be reconstructed, revealing the distribution of the positron-emitting isotope throughout the body.
What type of photodetectors are used?
In order to build a state-of-the-art PET scanner, photodetectors with high photodetection efficiency, low noise, and high timing precision are used. These photodetector characteristics enable more accurate timestamps to be created for each detected event, allowing the positron decay to be more accurately positioned within the body, creating higher contrast images. Higher contrast enables earlier detection of disease and better patient outcomes.
Other important photodetector characteristics include:
- gain stability (for reliable long-term operation)
- short recovery time (for high count rates)
- compact size (for high spatial resolution and for low dead space between detectors).
How do Hamamatsu SiPMs (MPPCs) enhance PET imaging performance?
Hamamatsu SiPMs integrate low dead space packaging, correlated noise suppression, and high fill factor microcell technology to achieve exceptional photosensitivity and low noise performance, enabling industry-leading timing resolution.
We have the optimum detectors available for your PET scanner from our extensive selection of SiPMs (MPPCs) and PMTs.
Recommended products
The S14160 series MPPC arrays deliver high photon detection efficiency and fast timing resolution, enabling improved image quality and precise time-of-flight measurements in PET systems. Their compact, tileable design supports seamless integration into high-performance PET scanners.
Balances timing performance and signal stability, making it a versatile choice for TOF-PET systems that require consistent performance across large detector arrays and long acquisition times.
Related documents
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