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PET/CT Fusion
In order to tailor a radiation treatment for a
particular patient, Computed Tomography (CT) images are routinely used to
design beams which focus the dose around the diseased area while
maintaining the dose to health tissue at acceptable levels. Although
the anatomic information of CT is very useful for both identification of
critical structures and for accurate dose calculations, it provides limited
information about the biological activity of tumors.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) provides much more
information in this regard but contains very little anatomical information.
A mathematical technique called fusion merges CT and
PET images together to take advantage of both of the anatomy from CT and
the enhanced localization from PET. From the combination of these
images, the Radiation Oncologist is able to better outline the tumor so
that the radiation dose can be more confidently tailored to the patient's
diseased area.
In collaboration with the SouthWest PET Institute,
the Department of Radiation Oncology has recently implemented
state-of-the-art PET/CT fusion to guide radiation treatments. We are
among the first in the country to use this important new technology for
the treatment of cancer.
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