{"entity":{"id":"pet","kind":"technology","name":"PET (positron emission tomography)","aka":["PET scan","positron emission tomography","PET scanning","PET imaging"],"tldr":"A scan that shows where a radioactive tracer accumulates, so it images what tumours are doing rather than what they look like.","summary":"Positron emission tomography detects the paired 511 keV gamma photons produced when a positron from a radioactive tracer annihilates with an electron; coincidence detection localises the source and the standardised uptake value (SUV) quantifies it. Isotopes such as 18F, 68Ga, 89Zr and 64Cu are attached to a targeting molecule, and the tracer determines what is measured: glucose metabolism (FDG), receptor expression (PSMA, SSTR, TROP2, HER2), stroma (FAP), immune cells (CD8) or DNA repair (PARP). In clinical use since 1975, it is almost always combined with CT or MRI for anatomic reference. Its strengths are whole-body biology in one quantitative scan and the fact that any target with a ligand can in principle be imaged. Resolution of about 4 mm and tracer supply and cost are the main limitations. PET images what tumours are doing rather than what they look like.","status":"standard-of-care","asOf":"2026-09-04","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography","links":[{"label":"Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positron_emission_tomography"}],"tags":[],"related":["molecular-imaging-roadmap"],"cancers":[],"sections":["imaging"],"technologies":["fdg-pet","psma-pet","fapi-pet","trop2-pet","her2-pet","immuno-pet","parp-pet"],"targets":[],"drugs":["choline-c11"],"companies":["alpha-9-oncology","evergreen-theragnostics"],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":["nct05381103","nct06084806","nct03444844","nct07615101","nct06754085","nct06369831","nct04724369","nct07691775","nct07649122","nct06474806"],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":["nuclear-medicine-hardware","pet-tracer-manufacturing"],"notes":[],"principle":"Positron-emitting isotopes (18F, 68Ga, 89Zr, 64Cu) attached to a targeting molecule; coincidence detection of 511 keV photons; standardised uptake value (SUV) quantifies uptake.","strengths":["Whole-body biology in one scan","Quantitative","Any target with a ligand can in principle be imaged"],"limitations":["Resolution ~4 mm","Tracer supply and cost","Inflammation confounds FDG"],"since":1975},"route":"/technologies/pet/","neighbours":{"roadmap":[{"id":"molecular-imaging-roadmap","kind":"roadmap","name":"Molecular imaging roadmap: FDG → PSMA → FAP → antigen and immune PET","route":"/roadmaps/molecular-imaging-roadmap/"}],"section":[{"id":"imaging","kind":"section","name":"Imaging","route":"/fronts/imaging/"}],"technology":[{"id":"caix-pet","kind":"technology","name":"CAIX PET (89Zr-girentuximab)","route":"/technologies/caix-pet/"},{"id":"medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"CT, MRI and PET scanner manufacturing","route":"/technologies/medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing/"},{"id":"cyclotron-isotope-production","kind":"technology","name":"Cyclotron isotope production (F-18, Ga-68, Cu-64, Zr-89, At-211)","route":"/technologies/cyclotron-isotope-production/"},{"id":"dose-painting","kind":"technology","name":"Dose painting and biologically guided radiotherapy","route":"/technologies/dose-painting/"},{"id":"fapi-pet","kind":"technology","name":"FAPI PET","route":"/technologies/fapi-pet/"},{"id":"fdg-pet","kind":"technology","name":"FDG PET","route":"/technologies/fdg-pet/"},{"id":"fes-pet","kind":"technology","name":"FES PET (oestrogen receptor imaging)","route":"/technologies/fes-pet/"},{"id":"her2-pet","kind":"technology","name":"HER2 PET","route":"/technologies/her2-pet/"},{"id":"immuno-pet","kind":"technology","name":"Immuno-PET","route":"/technologies/immuno-pet/"},{"id":"medical-cyclotrons-synthesis-modules","kind":"technology","name":"Medical cyclotrons, hot cells, and synthesis modules","route":"/technologies/medical-cyclotrons-synthesis-modules/"},{"id":"mibg-theranostics","kind":"technology","name":"MIBG imaging and 131I-MIBG therapy","route":"/technologies/mibg-theranostics/"},{"id":"nuclear-medicine-hardware","kind":"technology","name":"Nuclear medicine and total-body PET hardware","route":"/technologies/nuclear-medicine-hardware/"},{"id":"parp-pet","kind":"technology","name":"PARP PET","route":"/technologies/parp-pet/"},{"id":"pet-tracer-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"PET tracer manufacturing and distribution","route":"/technologies/pet-tracer-manufacturing/"},{"id":"pet-ct","kind":"technology","name":"PET/CT","route":"/technologies/pet-ct/"},{"id":"pet-mri","kind":"technology","name":"PET/MRI","route":"/technologies/pet-mri/"},{"id":"psma-pet","kind":"technology","name":"PSMA PET","route":"/technologies/psma-pet/"},{"id":"quantitative-imaging-biomarkers","kind":"technology","name":"Quantitative imaging biomarkers (RECIST, PERCIST, SUV, ADC)","route":"/technologies/quantitative-imaging-biomarkers/"},{"id":"radiopharmacy-network","kind":"technology","name":"Radiopharmacy and cyclotron networks","route":"/technologies/radiopharmacy-network/"},{"id":"sstr-pet","kind":"technology","name":"Somatostatin receptor PET (68Ga/64Cu-DOTATATE)","route":"/technologies/sstr-pet/"},{"id":"total-body-pet-screening","kind":"technology","name":"Total-body PET for screening and ultra-low-dose imaging","route":"/technologies/total-body-pet-screening/"},{"id":"trop2-pet","kind":"technology","name":"TROP2 PET","route":"/technologies/trop2-pet/"},{"id":"tumour-hypoxia-modification","kind":"technology","name":"Tumour hypoxia: imaging and modification","route":"/technologies/tumour-hypoxia-modification/"}],"drug":[{"id":"choline-c11","kind":"drug","name":"Choline C-11","route":"/drugs/choline-c11/"},{"id":"florastamin-f18","kind":"drug","name":"Florastamin F-18","route":"/drugs/florastamin-f18/"},{"id":"fluciclovine-f18","kind":"drug","name":"Fluciclovine F-18","route":"/drugs/fluciclovine-f18/"},{"id":"fludeoxyglucose-f18","kind":"drug","name":"Fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG)","route":"/drugs/fludeoxyglucose-f18/"},{"id":"fluoroestradiol-f18","kind":"drug","name":"Fluoroestradiol F-18 (FES PET)","route":"/drugs/fluoroestradiol-f18/"},{"id":"psma-1007-f18","kind":"drug","name":"PSMA-1007 F-18","route":"/drugs/psma-1007-f18/"},{"id":"girentuximab-zr89","kind":"drug","name":"Zirconium-89 girentuximab","route":"/drugs/girentuximab-zr89/"}],"company":[{"id":"alpha-9-oncology","kind":"company","name":"Alpha-9 Oncology","route":"/companies/alpha-9-oncology/"},{"id":"evergreen-theragnostics","kind":"company","name":"Evergreen Theragnostics","route":"/companies/evergreen-theragnostics/"},{"id":"reflexion","kind":"company","name":"RefleXion Medical","route":"/companies/reflexion/"},{"id":"sofie-biosciences","kind":"company","name":"SOFIE Biosciences","route":"/companies/sofie-biosciences/"}],"trial":[{"id":"nct07691775","kind":"trial","name":"A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Diagnostic Performance of F18 FBPA PET/CT Imaging in Solid Tumors","route":"/trials/nct07691775/"},{"id":"nct03444844","kind":"trial","name":"Biodistribution and Dosimetry of Ga-68 P16-093 in Prostate Cancer","route":"/trials/nct03444844/"},{"id":"nct06369831","kind":"trial","name":"HER2 Targeted Molecular Imaging in mBC and Other Metastatic Solid Carcinomas Using 68Ga-ABS011","route":"/trials/nct06369831/"},{"id":"nct07615101","kind":"trial","name":"Investigating the Safety and Diagnostic Performance of 68Ga-NYM032 Injection PET/CT in Men With Newly Diagnosed Prostate Cancer.","route":"/trials/nct07615101/"},{"id":"nct04724369","kind":"trial","name":"Open-Label Study of 18F-mFBG for Imaging Neuroblastoma","route":"/trials/nct04724369/"},{"id":"nct05381103","kind":"trial","name":"PSMA-PET to Guide Prostatectomy","route":"/trials/nct05381103/"},{"id":"nct06474806","kind":"trial","name":"Safety and Diagnostic Performance of uPAR PET Imaging in Localised, Untreated Prostate Cancer","route":"/trials/nct06474806/"},{"id":"nct06754085","kind":"trial","name":"Study of 18F-Florastamin PET/CT Imaging in Patients With Suspected Recurrence of Prostate Cancer","route":"/trials/nct06754085/"},{"id":"nct06084806","kind":"trial","name":"Test-retest Evaluation of [18F]F-AraG PET","route":"/trials/nct06084806/"},{"id":"nct07649122","kind":"trial","name":"This Study Evaluates the Diagnostic Performance and Safety of 68Ga-NYM032 PET/CT Imaging in Patients With Suspected Recurrence of Prostate Cancer.","route":"/trials/nct07649122/"}],"cancer":[{"id":"extrapulmonary-nec","kind":"cancer","name":"Extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma","route":"/cancers/extrapulmonary-nec/"},{"id":"grade-3-net","kind":"cancer","name":"Grade 3 well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumour","route":"/cancers/grade-3-net/"},{"id":"inflammatory-breast-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Inflammatory breast cancer","route":"/cancers/inflammatory-breast-cancer/"},{"id":"lung-lcnec","kind":"cancer","name":"Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the lung","route":"/cancers/lung-lcnec/"},{"id":"lung-cancer","kind":"cancer","name":"Lung cancer (all types)","route":"/cancers/lung-cancer/"},{"id":"prostate-nepc","kind":"cancer","name":"Neuroendocrine and small-cell prostate cancer","route":"/cancers/prostate-nepc/"},{"id":"neuroendocrine","kind":"cancer","name":"Neuroendocrine tumours","route":"/cancers/neuroendocrine/"},{"id":"nsclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Non-small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/nsclc/"},{"id":"prostate","kind":"cancer","name":"Prostate cancer","route":"/cancers/prostate/"},{"id":"seminoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Seminoma","route":"/cancers/seminoma/"}],"target":[{"id":"grpr","kind":"target","name":"GRPR (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor)","route":"/targets/grpr/"}],"idea":[{"id":"idea-mfbg-pet-replaces-mibg","kind":"idea","name":"18F-MFBG PET replacing 123I-MIBG scintigraphy","route":"/ideas/idea-mfbg-pet-replaces-mibg/"},{"id":"idea-fund-phase-zero-fund","kind":"idea","name":"A phase 0 fund to test academic compounds in humans with microdoses and imaging","route":"/ideas/idea-fund-phase-zero-fund/"},{"id":"idea-bio1-drug-exposure-sanctuary-mapping","kind":"idea","name":"Find the parts of a tumour the drug never reaches","route":"/ideas/idea-bio1-drug-exposure-sanctuary-mapping/"},{"id":"idea-metabolic-vulnerability-mapping","kind":"idea","name":"Map metabolic dependencies in the patient, not the dish","route":"/ideas/idea-metabolic-vulnerability-mapping/"},{"id":"idea-bio2-hypoxia-guided-adenosine","kind":"idea","name":"Use a hypoxia scan to pick patients for adenosine-pathway drugs","route":"/ideas/idea-bio2-hypoxia-guided-adenosine/"},{"id":"idea-bio2-vascular-normalisation-window","kind":"idea","name":"Use imaging to find the window when tumour blood vessels are working properly","route":"/ideas/idea-bio2-vascular-normalisation-window/"}],"term":[{"id":"ebus-tbna","kind":"term","name":"Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS-TBNA)","route":"/terms/ebus-tbna/"},{"id":"mediastinal-lymph-node-stations","kind":"term","name":"Mediastinal lymph node stations","route":"/terms/mediastinal-lymph-node-stations/"},{"id":"metastasis-free-survival","kind":"term","name":"Metastasis-free survival (MFS)","route":"/terms/metastasis-free-survival/"},{"id":"radiographic-progression-free-survival","kind":"term","name":"Radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS)","route":"/terms/radiographic-progression-free-survival/"},{"id":"resectability-lung-cancer","kind":"term","name":"Resectability in lung cancer","route":"/terms/resectability-lung-cancer/"},{"id":"suv","kind":"term","name":"Standardised uptake value (SUV)","route":"/terms/suv/"},{"id":"tnm-9-lung-cancer","kind":"term","name":"TNM 9: what changed in lung cancer staging","route":"/terms/tnm-9-lung-cancer/"}],"person":[{"id":"diwani-msemo","kind":"person","name":"Diwani Msemo","route":"/people/diwani-msemo/"},{"id":"johannes-czernin","kind":"person","name":"Johannes Czernin","route":"/people/johannes-czernin/"},{"id":"robert-mach","kind":"person","name":"Robert H. Mach","route":"/people/robert-mach/"},{"id":"thomas-hope","kind":"person","name":"Thomas A. Hope","route":"/people/thomas-hope/"},{"id":"wolfgang-weber","kind":"person","name":"Wolfgang A. Weber","route":"/people/wolfgang-weber/"}],"institution":[{"id":"cancer-care-alberta","kind":"institution","name":"Cancer Care Alberta (Alberta Health Services)","route":"/institutions/cancer-care-alberta/"},{"id":"snmmi","kind":"institution","name":"Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging","route":"/institutions/snmmi/"}],"pathway":[{"id":"glutamine-metabolism","kind":"pathway","name":"Glutamine addiction","route":"/pathways/glutamine-metabolism/"}]}}