Design and Cost of PET Center

Abstract

PET/CT has become one of the most common and useful modalities for detection and monitoring of treatment of human diseases because of its high diagnostic efficacy and accuracy. PET centers are growing in large number throughout the world as hospitals and outpatient imaging centers are utilizing PET/CT increasingly for patient care. A PET center is a designated area to accommodate one or more PET and/or PET/CT scanners. Smaller facilities normally possess only a single unit of PET/CT and procure their PET radiopharmaceuticals from commercial vendors having a cyclotron facility. These facilities are not likely to be considered as PET centers. Larger and academic institutes have PET centers that are large enough in area to accommodate several PET/CT scanners, one or more cyclotrons and a radiochemistry laboratory. These centers produce PET radiopharmaceuticals in their own cyclotron and use them for both patient care and research. The following is a brief description of the design of a PET center based on the clinical operation of one PET/CT scanner, a radiochemistry laboratory and a cyclotron.