How is a PET scanner able to locate a tumour in the patient's body?

The patient is injected with a radioactive isotope with short half-life, for eg Fluorine-18. This isotope decays into positrons. The area damaged with tumour requires more blood supply compared to the healthy cells. Therefore higher concentration of the isotope is transported to the damaged area where the positrons from the isotope interact with naturally occurring electrons in the body to cause annihilation. This electron-positron annihilation leads to production of two gamma rays due to conservation of energy, which travel in opposite direction. These gamma rays are detected by the detectors in a ring around the patient. The computer connected to these detectors calculate the location of the origin of the gamma ray pairs by triangulation.

Answered by Krish D. Physics tutor

2193 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Which state can a substance NOT be in if heat transfer through convection is occurring?


The energy transferred from the water in the kettle to its surroundings in 2 hours is 46 200 J. The mass of water in the kettle is 0.50 kg. The specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/kg °C. What is its temperature after 2 hours?


What is the difference between speed and velocity?


a) Give an example of an alpha radiation source used in homes b) Why is it safe to use a source of alpha radiation in the house


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences