Most homes have at least one particle accelerator in them as part of a television picture tube or computer monitor. In PET, a tagged substance is injected or inhaled. This moves normally through the patient to accumulate in the targeted organ. The patient is scanned using a PET camera which translates data into computer images. Malfunctions in metabolism are immediately apparent by abnormal distribution of the tagged substance.
PET shows blood flow by imaging trace amounts of radioisotopes.
It indicates decreases in blood flow to say parts of the brain indicating such diseases as Alzheimer's. Gallium-67 detects soft tissue tumours and hidden infections. It is also used to track certain solid tumours in children and to assess effectiveness of treatments. Uses of thallium-201 in cardiology have increased dramatically in recent years. The NMC staff plan to expand production for the overseas market commencing in 1996.