What is SPECT/CT Imaging?

‌Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is a form of functional nuclear imaging whereby the behaviour of the human body can be studied. A radioactive tracer is chemically coupled to a metabolically active molecule allowing for a specific biological function to be studied. CT, or Computed Tomography detects a stream of X-rays from many angles which have traversed a patient and subsequently attenuated, this is commonly known as structural imaging. The SPECT/CT machine uses co-registration software to combine the two methods giving doctors the opportunity to determine both what is happening and where it is happening.  

 ‌‌

The low resolution (left) and high resolution (right) phantoms designed by Liverpool.