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Glite Dictionary
positron emission tomography scanner

positron emission tomography scanner

6.5
A machine that makes detailed pictures showing where the body uses energy
  • noun
  • /ˈpɒzɪtrɒn ɪˈmɪʃən təˈmɒɡrəfi ˈskænər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : escáner de tomografía por emisión de positrones
  • A radiologist explained how a positron emission tomography scanner reveals areas of high metabolic activity in the body.

Examples

  • The hospital recently purchased a new positron emission tomography scanner to improve its cancer detection capabilities.

  • With the help of a positron emission tomography scanner, doctors can monitor the effectiveness of treatments for neurological disorders.

  • The positron emission tomography scanner is essential for diagnosing certain cancers.

  • Have you seen the new positron emission tomography scanner at the hospital?

  • A radiologist explained how a positron emission tomography scanner reveals areas of high metabolic activity in the body.

  • The hospital recently purchased a new positron emission tomography scanner to improve its cancer detection capabilities.

  • With the help of a positron emission tomography scanner, doctors can monitor the effectiveness of treatments for neurological disorders.

Synonyms

PET scanner
vspositron emission tomography scanner
  • Specialized
1 3.5

Machine that makes pictures showing activity in the body to find cancer

is the full formal name spelling out the technology rather than the short name

Surface Forms

positron emission tomography scanner singular
positron emission tomography scanners plural

Morphology

positron + emission + tomography + scanner

The phrase is fully compositional: ‘positron emission tomography’ names the imaging technique and ‘scanner’ names the device, so the overall meaning is literally a scanner that performs PET imaging. Although the components are technical, if a learner knows the constituent words the combined meaning is predictable and non-idiomatic.

Etymology

Positron emission tomography scanner shows how the machine works: tiny particles called positrons are released ('emission'), a machine takes many slice-by-slice pictures ('tomography'), and the scanner puts those pictures together. That's why it means a medical machine that 'shows activity inside the body'.