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Glite Dictionary
PET

PET

53 5.8
A medical scan that shows how the brain and other body parts use energy
  • noun
  • /pɛt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tomografía por emisión de positrones
  • The doctor recommended a PET scan to evaluate the patient's brain activity.
  • PET scan
  • positron emission PET
  • positron emission PET

We now look inside their brains with PET scans, FM, RIS.

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Examples

  • The most familiar practical application of positrons is in positron-emission tomography, called PET scanning.

    Academic text (2012)

  • In the red region, the PET scan showed high oxygen deficiencies, which indicate tumor cells.

    Academic text (2002)

  • The new test is much like the PET but without the ten percent damage risk.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • - When is his next PET scan?

    Control (2004)

  • This is the PET/CT scan.

    The Fantasticks (2000)

  • So he went on to get his PET scan, which detects cancers.

  • PET scan only proports to show images of the brain's chemistry at a given moment in time.

    Rampage (1987)

  • The utility of a PET scan in evaluating distant metastasis with NEC has been described.

    Academic text (2008)

  • During the examination, the technician explained how a PET scan works to visualize metabolic processes.

  • After his PET scan, the doctor discussed the results regarding his neurological health.

Synonyms

positron emission tomography
vsPET
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A medical scan that shows how body parts use energy, often the brain

is the short abbreviation used instead of the full technical name

Compounds

pet peeve
  • Informal
19 6.3

Something small that annoys you more than it annoys most people

pet shop
13 1.0

A shop that sells animals and supplies for people to keep as pets

pet name
  • Informal
11 2.1

A special short name people use for someone they care about

teacher's pet
  • Informal
10 3.1

A student who gets special attention from the teacher

pet food
9 1.0

Things pets eat, like meals for dogs or cats

exotic pet
3 4.4

An animal from another country that people keep in their home for company, like a snake or parrot

pet sitter
1 2.7

A person who cares for pets while their owners are away

losing a pet
1 4.2

Feeling deep sadness after a pet dies

PET scanner
  • Specialized
1 3.5

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

pet sitting
1 3.0

Looking after someone's pet at their home while the owner is away

pet keet
5.8

A small bird like a parakeet that people keep as a pet

pet stain
  • NSFW
2.4

A mark on carpet or furniture made by an animal, often from pee

How Detailed

fMRI
  • Specialized
8 3.6
PET
  • Specialized
53 5.8
EEG
  • Specialized
22 5.3

Surface Forms

PET singular
PETs plural

Morphology

PET = positron + emission + tomography (opaque) = P + E + T

If a learner knows the full phrase 'positron emission tomography', the acronym formation from initials is straightforward, but the abbreviated form itself is not self-explanatory.

Etymology

PET comes from the first letters of positron emission tomography. A positron is a tiny particle, emission means 'sending out', and tomography means making 'slice' pictures. So a PET scan shows active parts of the body by catching particles they send out and turning them into images.