Medical Physics: PET Scans (Positron Emission Tomography), Positron Annihilation, and Antimatter

A little introduction to positron annihilation and PET scans - amazing medical technology that, believe it or not, uses anti-matter. 0:00 Protons, neutrons, and electrons. 1:20 Introduce the positron. 2:23 Positions are made by decay of fluorine-18. 5:28 Positions and elections annihilate each other and make two gamma rays. 8:45 Patient is given radioactive sugar (fluorodeoxyglucose) that goes all over the body and accumulates preferentially in certain areas, including cancer cells, that more aggressively metabolize sugar. images are formed from the gamma rays produced when the fluorine in the sugar decays.10:39 Animation - The last bit of the video is an animation crated by ANSTO in Australia - original YouTube link is here:    • PET Scan animation  . This medical imaging techique can be extremely helpful for early detection and management of cancer. #petscan #cancer #physicslectures