How PET Scans Benefit Medical Patients with Neurological Conditions

The technology behind positron-emission tomography (PET) scans has evolved considerably in the last few years. Especially in the area of neuroimaging, PET scans have provided physicians with clear two- and three-dimensional pictures of brain activity, allowing for precision treatment plans better suited to a patient’s current needs.

Neurological applications of PET scans

Early medical applications of PET scan technology were almost exclusively for the brain. By measuring low-level radioactive isotopes injected into the bloodstream, brain PET scans were able to reveal tumors and diseased tissue in the brain, as well as show the speed of blood flow, and cellular and/or tissue metabolism. 

MRI Before Epilepsy Surgery Can Help Protect The Brain from Damage

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic procedure that makes use of large magnets and radio frequencies to produce a highly detailed image of the body’s inner workings. It can be used to take images of various parts of the body, including the brain.

A functional MRI of the brain is used to determine where exactly in the brain certain functions—such as memory, speech, or muscle movement—occurs. By determining the exact location of the functional area of the brain, physicians can map out the proper treatment for a particular brain disorder.