Science Popularization: PET/CT – The "Keen Eye" for Early Detection of Tumor Diseases
PET-CT is currently one of the most advanced nuclear medicine molecular imaging devices in the world, known in Chinese as Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography.
PET-CT is essentially PET + CT, combining the optimal integration of PET (functional molecular imaging) and CT (anatomical imaging). While it retains the individual functions of both PET and CT, it is far more than a simple sum of the two—thanks to their complementary strengths, the result is a synergistic "1+1>2" effect.
Beyond the standalone capabilities of PET and CT, PET-CT’s unique fusion imaging merges metabolic data from PET with anatomical details from CT, enabling not only early disease detection but also significantly enhanced diagnostic accuracy. For this reason, it has been hailed as the "Sherlock Holmes" of modern medical diagnostics and a "Keen Eye" for tumor detection.
Early Detection of Tumors
The Nature of Disease (Biochemical Alteration Process)
Gene Dysregulation → Abnormal Expression → Metabolic Disorder → Functional Disruption → Structural Changes → Clinical Manifestations
If malignant tumors can be detected early, a complete cure is no longer a dream!
Early Adenomatous Lesion of the Rectum
Case 01
Male / 48 years old
Abdominal pain and diarrhea for over 3 months.
FDG PET/CT performed 50 minutes post FDG injection.
PET findings:
- Abnormal FDG uptake observed in the proximal rectum
- Maximum SUV value: 5.6
Pathological Diagnosis:
Tubulovillous adenoma of the rectum with grade II (moderate) dysplasia.
Early-stage Lung Adenocarcinoma
Case 02
Male, 51 years old
- Incidentally detected left lung nodule on screening CT
- Surgical pathology: Moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, Stage Ia
Gansu Wuwei Medical Science Academy Cancer Hospital PET-CT Center has introduced the GE Discovery 710 Ultra HD PET-CT, the most advanced 256-ring LBS crystal PET/128-slice spiral CT system in China.
This device is the fourth PET-CT unit in Gansu Province and the only one in prefecture-level hospitals across the province. As a world-leading iterative PET-CT developed by GE, it demonstrates superior sensitivity and specificity compared to conventional PET-CT systems.
With its unique 1.8mm ultra-high spatial resolution, it significantly enhances the detection capability for minute lesions, while substantially reducing whole-body scanning time and patient radiation dose, delivering optimal diagnostic results. It has been acclaimed as the "Pinnacle of Modern Medical Technology".
The center operates a first-class radiopharmacy lab, equipped with a medical cyclotron system capable of producing various specialized tracers (¹¹C, ¹³N, ¹⁸F) for different diagnostic needs. The radiopharmaceutical purity exceeds national standards, reaching world-class levels, ensuring precise diagnosis for patients.
Our PET-CT center has become Gansu Province's only facility capable of performing both ¹¹C and ¹⁸F imaging, establishing itself as a regional leader in advanced nuclear medicine diagnostics.