Positron-emission-tomography in neurology and psychiatry: clinical applications

Positron-emission-tomography (PET) is increasingly used for clinical routine applications in neurology and psychiatry. The main radiopharmaceutical used for these applications is F-18- fluor-deoxyglucose (FDG), which monitors regional cerebral glucose metabolism. Labeled aminoacids and radiopharmaceuticals used for monitoring receptor systems and other complex biochemical processes of the central nervous system are gaining importance. PET is used clinically mainly in the fields of neuro-oncology, epilepsies, dementia and basal ganglia disorders. The present paper gives a critical review of the clinical applications of PET in neurology and psychiatry, which are currently considered as being established.