PET/CT
Small animal nanoScan PET/CT (Mediso Ltd) was funded by the Trond Mohn Foundation. It offers high resolution (0.7 mm PET and 0.02 mm CT) and high sensitivity imaging, mainly for mice and rats (or animals with similar size).
Further information
We collaborate closely with Center for nuclear medicine/PET at Haukeland University Hospital, where they provide an on-site cyclotron and a fully equipped radiochemistry lab for production of a wide range of PET tracers/radionuclides (see list below). We also have a gamma counter (Wizard, 2480) available for use.
What is PET?
PET (positron emission tomography) is an invaluable non-invasive diagnostic and research tool that provides 3D images and quantitative parameters of perfusion, proliferation and/or metabolic activity of tissue. The images result from the use of different substances of biological interest (sugars, amino acids, metabolic precursors, antibodies etc.) labeled with positron emitting radioisotopes (radionuclides). The technology is developing rapidly, resulting in a number of new tracers being developed and introduced regularly.
What is CT?
CT (computed tomography) is an X-ray based 3D imaging method providing anatomical information about the tissue of interest. It can be used in combination with PET or as a standalone tool. By combining PET and CT, both functional and anatomical information can be provided. We can also produce the sodium fluoride tracer NaF, for bone imaging. Combining CT with NaF-PET can be useful for bone regeneration research.
PET tracers
The most commonly used PET tracer is 18F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose), also called radiolabelled glucose. This tracer is used in most PET centers worldwide, and is an imperative tool in clinical cancer diagnosis, staging and management. FDG is an analogue of glucose and is taken up by living cells via the first stages of the glycolytic pathway. The rationale behind its use as a tracer is based on the increased glucose uptake by tumor cells. FDG uptake in tumors may correlate with tumor growth and viability, thus metabolic quantification from PET images may provide useful information regarding tumor characterization and treatment response. Other tracers MIC use at a regular basis include FMISO, which is a marker for hypoxia, and FLT, which is taken up by proliferating cells. Below lists the tracers currently available and previously used, however, additional tracers may be produced by appointment.
List of available PET tracers
Nuclide Tracer Application
18F FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) Glucose uptake eg. distant metastasis detection
18F FLT (fluorothymidine) Cell proliferation eg. tumor cells
18F FMISO (fluoromisonidazole) Hypoxia eg. tumor hypoxia
18F FET (fluoro-ethyl-tyrosine) Amino acid metabolism eg. glioma/brain tumors
18F PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) Prostate cancer detection
18F Choline (fluoromethylcholine) Phospholipids metabolism eg. prostate cancer
18F NaF (sodium fluoride) Bone scanning eg. bone regeneration and bone metastasis detection
18F DOPA (hydroxyphenylalanine) Pancreatic hyperinsulinism
11C Methionine (methylmethionine) Amino acid metabolism eg. glioma/brain tumors
68Ga DOTATOC Somatostatin receptor expression, detection of neuroendocrine carcinomas
Animal stalling and transport
Animals may be kept in a dedicated animal room next door to the PET/CT system. The Vivarium offers transport of animals between the animal facility and the PET/CT imaging facility.