Schmerzforschung mit der Positronen-Emissions-Tomografie

Zusammenfassung

Im Rahmen der Schmerzforschung mit der Positronen- Emissions-Tomografie (PET) sind in den letzten Jahren zahlreiche wegweisende Arbeiten entstanden, welche unser heutiges Verständnis der zerebralen Schmerzverarbeitung und Schmerzmodulation wesentlich geprägt haben. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit fassen wir wichtige PET-Befunde zur Physiologie der Schmerzverarbeitung und des Opioidsystems sowie zur Pathophysiologie von ausgewählten Schmerzsyndromen zusammen und erörtern welche zukünftigen Entwicklungen zu erwarten sind.

Summary

Studies applying positron emission tomography (PET) have tremendously advanced our understanding of cerebral pain processing as well as pain modulation in the past. This article summarizes key findings on the physiology of cerebral pain processing and the opioid system as well as the pathophysiology of selected clinical pain conditions. We also outline the future potential of PET in pain research.

Schlüsselwörter

PET - Aktivierung - Metabolismus - Liganden - Opiate - Schmerz

Keywords

PET - activation - metabolism - ligand - opiate - pain

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