Hybrid System: PET/CT

Computed Tomography (CT) is a radiology technique capable of providing high resolution volumetric representations of the attenuation properties of tissue. The anatomical data provided by CT is complementary to the functional data provided by PET. Furthermore, CT data can be used to replace the time-consuming transmission scans typically used for PET attenuation correction. For this reasons, the commercialization of the first hybrid PET/CT scanners was a resounding success, to the point that standalone PET systems are seldom seen nowadays. The main clinical indication of PET/CT is in oncology, as well as being instrumental in neurology and drug development research. In this chapter we will review the challenges of designing hybrid, integrated PET and CT scanners. Both technical and practical considerations for clinical usage will be discussed. This chapter is complementary with the previous chapter on standalone PET technology.