Lasers In Pet example essay topic

Okay, this paper is going to deal with one medical application of radioisotopes, and if you don't know what they are, research them; I only have a certain amount of space to write. Ready then? Well then, tally ho! First, let's address what a PET scan looks for, then we can tackle the bigger issues surrounding it. A PET scan is a diagnostic procedure used to determine whether or not something (i. e., a tumour) is malignant. (Also, PET stands for positron emission tomography.) How it does this is simple.

A radioisotope (aka, in this procedure, a tracer) is inserted into your bloodstream, where it flows right on down to the target areas (the area being scanned). There it will emit positrons (it was altered to be allowed to do such) and those positrons will collide with electrons, creating gamma rays. Those rays are picked up in that huge old PET scanner machine they put you in. Those rays will look slightly different and the techie can tell which areas of the tissue are malignant, if any. (Yay!) Now for the history of the PET scanner. (Boo.) I know, I know, But it's quick.

The procedure was first used in 1975, and it was building on the principles of radiography created by Wilhelm R"ont gen. There have really been no recent developments with the PET, except for the fact that they have fine-tuned it so it is takes a very, very, very good picture of your brain. Also, there has been talk of using lasers in PET scans. This would make them cheaper, since the process of the costly way of making of the radioisotopes would be eliminated (They decay quickly, either within minutes or hours, so you really have a short span of time with them), replaced with just shooting the isotopes with a laser that produces a beam of fast-moving protons (and this is a cheap titanium-sapphire laser, mind you) that aimed at a suitable material for about a half-hour, would create about the number of radioisotopes needed for the PET. Of course, this is still in the testing. They need to get the laser to a higher intensity for it to fully work.

And the statistics: According to published scientific reports, PET scanning has an accuracy of 97% in correctly identifying detected lesions. (More than most diagnostic procedures) And that's it. Good day. Now, I would like to thank the following sites for their splendid work in helping make all this possible. And GAS. Because GAS is always there.

(Get your mind outta the gutter! Grammer and Spelling, people! Geez!) 1) PET Scan InfoCenter: web Created by some doctors. Don't ask who. 2) InteliHealth: PET Scan section. The link is: web If that doesn't work, go to the root intelihealth. com, and search from there.

3) The History and Evolution of PET: web 4) Vital Imaging: PET scan FAQ: web 5) Article: "Lasers may make PET scans cheaper": Author- Philip Ball ": Date - 17 October 2003: web.