PET in clinical practice

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging tool that has expanded from its vital role in basic research into clinical medicine. This noninvasive diagnostic modality is used in cardiac perfusion and viability; in neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, dementia, and tumor; and in a wide range of common cancers to diagnose, stage, and monitor therapy. The importance of PET in clinical practice is growing rapidly, and the number of PET centers across the country is increasing. It is imperative, therefore, that physicians are familiar with PET, and know where this tool can be the most useful and cost-effective modality for patient management.