Some of the key terms used throughout Mission’s PET/CT Center are defined here.

Anatomy
Knowledge of the exact form, position, size and relationship of the various structures of the human body.

Antimatter
Matter composed of antiparticles.

Antiparticle
A subatomic particle identical to another subatomic particle in mass but opposite to it in electromagnetic properties.

Atom
In chemistry and physics, the smallest particle of a chemical element that retains its chemical properties. Atoms are made up of the subatomic particles electrons, protons and neutrons.

Benign
Refers to a tumor that is not considered life-threatening.

BGO crystals
Material used in PET imaging, less effective than newer LSO crystal technology.

Biochemical
Related to the study of chemical processes in living organisms.

Biopsy
A medical test involving the removal and examination of tissue, cells or fluids.

Cancer
A malignant growth or tumor caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells.

Cardiology
The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the heart and its actions and diseases.

Cardiovascular
Relating to or involving the heart and blood vessels.

Coronary disease
A heart condition caused by reduced blood flow through the coronary arteries, typically resulting in chest pain or heart damage.

CT
Computed tomography; a diagnostic imaging technique in which a series of two-dimensional x-rays taken from many different vantage points are combined by a computer to form a detailed, three-dimensional image of the body’s internal structures.

Diabetes
A condition caused by insufficient production of insulin and resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Electron
A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of the atom.

Electron-positron annihilation
When an electron collides with its antiparticle, a positron, causing both elements to be completely destroyed and resulting in the emission of gamma rays.

Enhancing agent
Compounds used in x-ray imaging to improve the visibility of internal bodily structures; also referred to as a contrast agent or radiocontrast agent.

FDG
Short for fluorodeoxyglucose; a type of radioactive glucose (sugar) and the most common radioisotope used in PET/CT scanning.

Gamma ray
A form of high-frequency, high-energy light emission produced from subatomic particle interaction, such as electron-positron annihilation.

Glucose
A simple form of sugar and the body’s main source of energy; also referred to as blood sugar.

Half-life
The time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive substance to decay.

Lesion
Abnormal tissue in the body caused by disease or trauma.

LSO crystals
Material used in PET imaging; currently allows for the shortest possible scan times and highest quality PET images.

Malignant
Refers to a tumor that is considered life-threatening.

Metabolism
The process by which organisms convert nutrients into the biochemical tools and structures needed to sustain life.

Metastasis
The spread of cancer cells from the initial or primary site of origin to another part of the body.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging; a noninvasive diagnostic technique that uses radio frequency signals to obtain computerized images of internal structures.

Neurology
The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the central nervous system (includes brain, brain stem and nerves).

Nucleus
The positively charged center of an atom, comprised of the subatomic particles protons and neutrons.

Oncology
The medical subspecialty dealing with the study and treatment of cancer.

Particle
Any of the basic units of matter and energy (molecule, atom, proton or electron)

PET
Positron emission technology; a diagnostic imaging technique in which a radioisotope injected into the bloodstream is used to create color-coded, computerized images of the body’s metabolic activity.

PET/CT
A single scanner that simultaneously performs PET and CT imaging; one of the most advanced cancer-detecting technologies available today.

Positron
A positively charged subatomic particle that is the antiparticle of an electron.

Radioactive
Emitting particles or energy that is the result of the disintegration of atomic nuclei.

Radioisotope
An atom with an unstable nucleus; used in PET/CT scanning to create images of the body’s metabolic activity.

Staging
Determining how far cancer has spread, taking into account the size of the tumor, how deep it has penetrated, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, if and how many lymph nodes it has spread to, and whether it has spread to distant organs.

Vascular disorder
A disease or condition of the blood vessels.

X-ray
A photograph or digital image obtained by passing electromagnetic radiation through the body’s internal structures and creating images from the different degrees to which the radiation is absorbed.