SPECT

SPECT or Single-photon emission computed tomography is a nuclear medicine tomographic imaging technique using gamma rays. It provides 3D information as opposed to the 2D information provided by a conventional scintigraphy.

Overview

SPECT imaging is performed by using a gamma camera to acquire multiple 2D images (also called projections), from multiple angles. A computer is then used to apply a tomographic reconstruction algorithm to the multiple projections, yielding a 3D dataset. This dataset may then be manipulated to show thin slices along any chosen axis of the body, similar to those obtained from other tomographic techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Applications

SPECT is used to diagnose and monitor a wide variety of medical conditions. Some of the most common applications include cardiology, neurology, and oncology.

Advantages and Disadvantages

SPECT has several advantages over other imaging techniques. It is less expensive than positron emission tomography (PET), and it can be performed using longer-lived and more easily obtained radioisotopes than PET. However, SPECT images are less detailed and have a lower resolution than PET images.

See Also

• Computed tomography
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Positron emission tomography
• Nuclear medicine

SPECT Resources
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