The partial volume effect causes small objects to be displayed with falsely __________ intensity, leading to a __________ in SUV.

The partial volume effect is a phenomenon that occurs in imaging techniques, including PET, where small structures or lesions are not fully represented in the resulting images. This effect is primarily due to the limited spatial resolution of the imaging system, which causes smaller objects to be blended with surrounding tissue. As a result, these small objects often appear to have a lower intensity than they actually do because the signal from the small region is diluted by the contributions from adjacent, larger volumes of tissue.

In terms of Standardized Uptake Values (SUV), the partial volume effect can lead to an underestimation of a small lesion's true metabolic activity. Since SUV is calculated using the activity concentration in a region of interest and the body weight or volume, a lower displayed intensity directly translates to a decrease in the calculated SUV for that structure. Thus, it highlights the significance of the partial volume effect in accurately interpreting PET images, especially when diagnosing conditions such as tumors, where precise localization and evaluation of metabolic activity are crucial.

Therefore, the correct answer captures that small objects are displayed with falsely low intensity, leading to a decrease in their SUV values.