Positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the nuclear medicine techniques available for diagnosis. Whilst X-rays provide information on the structure of the body, PET shows the chemical function of a particular organism. PET involves the injection of FDG (a glucose-based radionuclide) from a shielded syringe into the patient. As the FDG travels through the patient’s body it emits gamma radiation which is detected by a gamma camera, from which the chemical activity within cells and organs can be seen. Any abnormal chemical activity may be a sign that tumours are present.
PET scans are frequently used to detect cancerous tumours and diseases of the brain and coronary arteries.
Applications for tungsten alloy shielding in PET include:
PET syringe shield
Tungsten vial shield
Tungsten FDG transport container
Collimator for gamma camera
Technetium generator