Radioactive decay, half-life and uses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Question 2

Medium

Fluorodeoxyglucose ( $18F-FDG^{18}\text{F}\text{-FDG}$ ) is a radiotracer widely used in oncology and neurology. A patient undergoing a neurological study is administered $18F-FDG^{18}\text{F}\text{-FDG}$ , which concentrates in regions of the brain with high metabolic activity. The fluorine-18 isotope decays by emitting positrons ( $β+\beta^+$ particles). Figure 1 shows a PET detector ring positioned around the patient's head, recording the resulting radiation.

PET scan detector ring around a patient's head, showing positron-electron annihilation and opposing gamma photons.

Explain the physical process that occurs inside the patient's brain following positron emission, and how the PET scanner's detector ring and processing system use the resulting radiation to determine the exact location of high metabolic activity.

[3]

Radioactive decay, half-life and uses

Question 2

Radioactive decay, half-life and uses Questions

Radioactive decay, half-life and uses

Question 2

Radioactive decay, half-life and uses Questions