PET

Abbreviation with 2 meanings

PET
Stands forPositron emission tomography
Meanings2
CategoriesMedical, Science & Engineering

PET has two meanings. It stands for Positron emission tomography (medical imaging) or Polyethylene terephthalate (chemistry).

Meanings of PET at a glance

#PET stands forContext
1Positron emission tomographyMedical › Medical Imaging
2Polyethylene terephthalateScience & Engineering › Chemistry

1. Positron emission tomography

Medical · Medical Imaging Abbreviations

Nuclear medicine scan that images metabolism by detecting radiation from an injected tracer, most often FDG, a radioactive glucose analog taken up avidly by many cancers, inflamed tissue, the brain and heart muscle. It is used for cancer staging and treatment response, epilepsy and dementia evaluation, and cardiac viability studies.

Example: PET shows intense uptake in a right hilar node, upstaging the lung cancer to N1.

Positrons from the tracer annihilate with electrons, producing paired gamma rays that detectors record in opposite directions. Patients fast and keep blood sugar controlled before an FDG scan. Amyloid and tau tracers detect Alzheimer disease pathology, and PSMA PET has transformed prostate cancer staging. Nearly all clinical PET is now performed as combined PET-CT.

2. Polyethylene terephthalate

Science & Engineering · Chemistry Abbreviations

Clear, strong polyester used for most soft-drink and water bottles, food trays and synthetic fibers, where it is simply called polyester. PET is the most widely recycled plastic packaging; recycled PET, or rPET, becomes new bottles, fleece clothing and carpet.

Example: The label says the bottle is made from 100% recycled PET.

PET carries resin identification code 1, sometimes marked PETE to avoid confusion with other meanings. British chemists John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson patented it in 1941. In medicine PET means positron emission tomography, an imaging technique unrelated to the plastic.

More medical imaging abbreviations

  • NCCT – Non-contrast computed tomography
  • OPG – Orthopantomogram
  • PA – Posteroanterior
  • PACS – Picture archiving and communication system
  • PET-CT – Positron emission tomography-computed tomography
  • PI-RADS – Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System
  • POCUS – Point-of-care ultrasound
  • SPECT – Single-photon emission computed tomography

See all 58 medical imaging abbreviations →

More chemistry abbreviations

  • PC – Polycarbonate
  • PCB – Polychlorinated biphenyl
  • PE – Polyethylene
  • PEG – Polyethylene glycol (laxative and bowel preparation)
  • PFAS – Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
  • PFOA – Perfluorooctanoic acid
  • PFOS – Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
  • pH – Potential of hydrogen

See all 106 chemistry abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.