Tag: Radiotracer

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans use a radioactive tracer made from a glucose analog, and studies show that elevated blood glucose levels can significantly reduce image quality. For this reason, medical professionals advise against eating sweet potatoes and other high-carbohydrate foods before a PET scan.

The gamma camera, first developed by Hal Anger in 1958, revolutionized nuclear medicine by producing functional images of internal organs. These specialized cameras are utilized for a variety of tests, most prominently Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and planar scintigraphy. These procedures offer doctors a unique view into the physiological functions of a patient's body by tracking radioactive tracers.