Patent ID: 7115874

Claim:
A method of reconstructing image data to select borders for removal or killing of pathological cells within a body part using a positron emission tomography (PET) scanning system having at least a first detector head and a second detector head, the first and second detector heads being sensitive to radiation emitted by the body part, and the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning the first detector head within a body cavity; b) positioning the second detector head external to the body part; c) using coincidence gating to record data obtained by the first and second detector heads from the radiation emitted by the body part; d) applying Monte Carlo methodology to assist in an image reconstruction or in an image formation using the recorded data; e) using the reconstructed or formed image to detect pathological cells; f) removing tissue from the body part based on the reconstructed or formed image; and g) iterating steps a, b, c, d, e, and f to minimize an amount of residual viable pathological cells in the body part.