Abstract

CARRANZA PELEGRINA, Daniela et al. The diagnostic possibilities of Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Med. oral patol. oral cir. bucal (Ed.impr.) [online]. 2005, vol.10, n.4, pp.331-342. ISSN 1698-4447.

The principles of positron emission tomography (PET), recently introduced as a diagnostic procedure into the health sciences, are described. The principle clinical applications apply to a particular group of specialties: cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, and above all oncology. Positron emission tomography is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique with clinical applications. It is an excellent tool for the study of the stage and possible malignancy of tumors of head and neck, the detection of otherwise clinically indeterminate metastases and lymphadenopathies, and likewise for the diagnosis of relapses. The only tracer with any practical clinical application is fluor-desoxyglucosa-F¹⁸ (FDG). PET detects the intense accumulation of FDG produced in malignant tumors due to the increased glycolytic rate of the neoplastic cells. With the introduction of hybrid systems that combine computerized tomography or magnetic resonance with positron emission tomography, important advances are being made in the diagnosis and follow-up of oncologic pathology of head and neck.

Keywords : Positron emission tomography; head and neck neoplasia; imaging diagnosis.

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