Part 5/8:
Within minutes, the PET scanner can detect the radiation emitted from the tracer. This radiation is a result of positron emission—the process wherein the radioactive isotopes decay and release positrons, which are the positively charged counterparts of electrons. When these positrons encounter electrons from nearby molecules, they create a minuscule nuclear reaction, resulting in two high-energy photons emitted in opposite directions.
The PET scanner’s advanced software captures these photons through an array of radiation detectors situated along the scanner's inner walls. By analyzing the data from these detections, the software constructs a 3D map that reveals the distribution of the radiotracer throughout the body, highlighting areas where abnormal activity may exist.