TED-Ed: Pedro Brugarolas: Why do hospitals have particle accelerators?

The video explains the use of PET scans in medical diagnostics, focusing on the FDG tracer. It describes the production of fluorine-18 in a cyclotron and its application in detecting diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. The mechanism of PET scans, involving positron emission and 3D mapping, is detailed. The video also addresses the safety of PET scans, comparing radiation exposure to natural sources.

What is the primary role of FDG in a PET scan?

• To serve as a beacon for detecting cancer cells

• To measure blood pressure

• To act as a contrast agent for MRI

• To enhance the resolution of X-ray images

How is fluorine-18 produced for use in PET scans?

• By cooling oxygen-18 to low temperatures

• By bombarding oxygen-18 with protons in a cyclotron

• By mixing oxygen-18 with hydrogen

• By heating oxygen-18 in a furnace

What determines the identity of a radiotracer?

• The color of the tracer

• The chemical reactions used to attach radioactive fluorine

• The type of scanner used

• The speed of the cyclotron

What happens when a positron collides with an electron during a PET scan?

• They create a magnetic field

• They form a new molecule

• They produce two high-energy photons

• They emit a sound wave

How does the radiation exposure from a PET scan compare to natural sources?

• It is comparable to two or three years of natural exposure

• It is negligible and not measurable

• It is equivalent to a lifetime of natural exposure

• It is significantly higher than natural sources