single photon emission computed tomography


sin·gle pho·ton e·mis·sion com·put·ed to·mog·ra·phy (SPECT),

tomographic imaging of metabolic and physiologic functions in tissues, the image being formed by computer synthesis of photons of a single energy emitted by radionuclides administered in suitable form to the patient.

sin·gle pho·ton e·mis·sion com·put·ed to·mog·ra·phy

(SPECT) (sing'gĕl fō'ton ē-mi'shŭn kŏm-pyūt'ĕd tŏ-mog'ră-fē) Tomographic imaging of metabolic and physiologic functions in tissues, the image being formed by computer synthesis of photons of a single energy emitted by radionuclides administered in suitable form to the patient.

single photon emission computed tomography

Abbreviation: SPET, SPECT
A medical imaging method for reconstructing sectional images of radiotracer distributions. See: nuclear medicine scanning test; positron emission tomographySee also: tomography