Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) of a wholebody
positron emission tomography (PET) acquisition of a 79 kg (174 lb) female after intravenous injection of
radiopharmaceuticals, an example of
nuclear medicine, a
medical specialty involving the application of
radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This technique allows physicians to image the extent of a disease process in the body, based on the cellular function and
physiology, rather than relying on physical changes in the
tissue anatomy. This particular scan was performed as part of a
tumor diagnosis prior to applying
radiotherapy. Besides normal accumulation of the tracer in the heart, bladder, kidneys and brain, liver
metastases of a
colorectal tumor are clearly visible within the yellow and red area in the right upper abdomen.
Image: Jens Langner