metabolic imaging

Metabolic imaging is a technique that visualizes how cells and tissues in the body utilize energy and nutrients. By detecting specific metabolic processes, such as glucose or oxygen use, it helps identify areas with abnormal activity—often related to diseases like cancer or neurological conditions. Methods like PET (positron emission tomography) use special tracers and scanners to produce detailed images of these processes in real-time. This information aids doctors in diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring. In essence, metabolic imaging provides a window into the body's cellular activity, revealing what’s happening beneath the surface at the biochemical level.