Single photon emission computed tomography
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a form of brain imaging. SPECT is to nuclear medicine as what CT scans are to plain X-rays.
SPECT allows visualisation of the body in tomographic slices from recalculated planar views of the patient.
The patient receives an injection of a radiolabelled substance and images are taken using a gamma camera, similar as for plain nuclear medicine studies. However, the gamma camera is slowly rotated so that images are taken from several directions circumferentially around the patient. A computer reconstructs slices of the body from the multiple planar views.
Isotopes that emit single photons or positrons can be used for the radiolabled substance.
SPECT studies take more time than plain nuclear medicine images but do improve the sensitivity of the study because of better localizatin in three dimensions.
SPECT tracers
