Basics of SPECT (1): Summary of SPECT

Abstract

Radionuclide imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can provides 3-dimensinal images of various molecular functions by using a device that detects gamma rays emitted from a tracer drug labeled with a radioisotope and CT (computed tomography) technique. Therefore, it plays important roles for current medical care from animal experiments to clinical practice. SPECT is used widely because it is inexpensive and easy to perform although less sensitive than PET. In this tutorial, the basics of SPECT will be serialized three times. In this first paper, I give a summary of SPECT.