This provides the clinicians and researchers with an unique tool to study and quantify physiological and pathological functions of human tissues and organs. Diagnosticians have traditionally been trained to analyse informations provided by structural and anatomically based techniques. Biochemical processes are, however, altered virtually in all disease states and these alterations usually precede gross anatomical changes. With the advent of molecular biology based medicine, a transition must be made to incorporate information based on biochemical pertuberations into diagnostic informations, without waiting for structural changes.
PET provides such information.
PET is also very useful adjunct to anatomical imaging techniques, providing unique informations and an additional dimensions to the characterization of disease. Application of PET initially focussed on brain and heart. Now it is being primarily used in oncological indications. Using FOG in vivo cancer imaging is based on the observation of enhanced glycolysis in tumour cells. This phenomenon has been linked to both increase in the amount of glucoase membrane transporters and an increase in the activity of the principal enzyms controlling the glycolytic pathways.