Question

1. Explain why a SPECT system may be able to detect a PET isotope but a PET system can’t detect a SPECT isotope. Explain why a SPECT system may be able to detect multiple different SPECT tracers simultaneously but a PET system could never detect multiple different PET tracers simultaneously.

Answer 1

Spect System May detect the PET isotope but the PET system cannot detect the spect isotope.

The SPECT(Single Photon emitted Computed Tomography) scan can perform the scanning of the radiotracers used in various applications. This is used for determining the blood flow to the tissue or the organ.

The PET scan can measure the gamma rays.

The PET (Positron emission tomography) scan can produce small particles called positrons, this is used for medical application.

The life of the SPECT scan has a half-life of about 6 hours whereas the PET scan has only 75 seconds. The detection becomes more normal based on half-life criteria. Hence the SPECT can detect the PET isotope due to more half-life and Pet cannot do the same.

The capacity of the radiotracers to identify the isotope is better than the PET rays.