Normalization in PET is primarily used for which purpose?

Normalization in PET is primarily focused on standardizing the measurement of radioactivity within the imaging dataset. This process is essential for making accurate Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) calculations, which are used to quantify the concentration of radiotracer in a specific region of interest relative to the whole body or lean body mass. By normalizing data, one can ensure that variations in activity levels due to differences in patient size, injected dose, or other factors are appropriately addressed. This allows for more reliable comparisons between different studies or patients, which is particularly important when evaluating metabolic activity in clinical settings, such as distinguishing benign from malignant lesions.

Other options, while they may pertain to improving the quality of PET imaging or analysis, do not define the primary purpose of normalization. Enhancing image contrast or clarity more directly involves techniques related to image processing or acquisition rather than the mathematical standardization required for SUV calculations. Addressing patient movement is important for ensuring the accuracy of images but does not relate specifically to the normalization process itself; instead, that often involves motion correction techniques post-image acquisition.