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Molecular Imaging: Positron Emission Tomography

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Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET), when coupled with molecularly targeted positron emitter labeled organic compounds or labeled drugs, enables the measurement of biochemical transformations and the movement of drugs directly into the human brain and other organs. PET is the only imaging technology that can image and quantify specific cellular elements as well as the distribution and movement of drugs in the living human brain. This chapter introduces PET technology and radiotracer chemistry, which has enabled the visualization and quantification of the chemical anatomy of the human brain (as well as that of other organs) while working within the time constraints imposed by short-lived isotopes. It concludes with examples of PET studies in major brain diseases and in drug development as well as an outlook for the future of PET technologies in the neurosciences including its value for understanding the role of genes in brain diseases.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bell Avenue, Upton, NY, 11973, USA

    Joanna S. Fowler

  2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Building NSC, Room 5274, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD, 20892-9550, USA

    Nora D. Volkow

Authors
  1. Joanna S. Fowler
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  2. Nora D. Volkow
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna S. Fowler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rockefeller University Lab. Neurobiology & Behaviour, New York, New York, USA

    Donald W. Pfaff

  2. National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Nora D. Volkow

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© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York (outside of USA)

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Fowler, J.S., Volkow, N.D. (2016). Molecular Imaging: Positron Emission Tomography. In: Pfaff, D., Volkow, N. (eds) Neuroscience in the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6434-1_149-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6434-1_149-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6434-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Molecular Imaging: Positron Emission Tomography
    Published:
    30 July 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6434-1_149-2

  2. Original

    Molecular Imaging: PET
    Published:
    14 March 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6434-1_149-1

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