Barbara Katharina Geist (Vienna): Physics meets Medicine: Quantification in Nuclear Medicine

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a functional imaging method in Nuclear Medicine. Here, biomolecules labeled with positron-emitting radioisotopes are employed as non-invasive probes (tracers). With dynamic scans of a combined PET and Magnetic Resonance tool (PET/MR), tracer concentrations can be measured over time with very high morphological resolution.
The fate of a tracer in a certain organ and its sub-regions is dependent on underlying biochemical processes, which can be described with kinetic models. The development of a kinetic model is accompanied by experiments, i.e. animal and human studies, leading to a deeper understanding of these processes and to an improved diagnosis. An example for the derivation of such a model is the investigation of kidney function using ¹⁸F-labeled glucose (FDG). This and further developments are being conducted at the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, which will be presented during this talk.