← Back to Course Home

Week 07: Positron Emission Tomography

Positron Emission Tomography provides unmatched picomolar molecular sensitivity for measuring metabolic rates, neuroreceptor densities, and protein aggregates. This week covers cyclotrons, radioisotopes, positron annihilation physics, coincidence detection, attenuation correction, and pharmacokinetic modeling.

Interactive Demos & Activities

• Interactive PET Scanner Simulation

  Physics Simulator · Annihilation & LOR Reconstruction

  An interactive simulation of radiotracer decay, positron range, positron-electron annihilation, antiparallel 511 keV gamma photons, coincidence timing windows in the detector ring, and real-time Line of Response (LOR) reconstruction.

• PET Modality Card Game

  Educational Card Game · Radiotracers & Oncology

  Assemble complete hands connecting cyclotrons, radiotracers ($^{18}\text{F}$-FDG, $^{15}\text{O}$, $^{11}\text{C}$-PiB), annihilation coincidence detection, and neurodegenerative applications.

• X-Ray Water Radiolysis Simulator

  High-Energy Radiation Physics · Photon Attenuation

  Explore photoelectric absorption, Compton scattering, and radical generation during high-energy photon interactions in biological tissue.

Topics Covered

• Radioisotopes & Radiochemistry: Short half-lives ($^{11}\text{C} \approx 20\text{ min}$, $^{18}\text{F} \approx 110\text{ min}$), on-site cyclotrons, and synthesis of targeted molecular tracers.
• Coincidence Detection & Annihilation Physics: Positron kinetic energy and range, non-collinear photon emission, true vs. random vs. scattered coincidences, and Time-of-Flight (TOF) PET.
• Quantitative Kinetic Modeling: Standardized Uptake Values (SUV), arterial input functions, compartment modeling, and imaging amyloid-beta and tau in Alzheimer's disease.