Editorial standards
The rules we follow when writing about a medical imaging method, and what we will not do.
Health pages can mislead without anyone intending it. A rounded number, an old guideline or a confident tone can all do harm. These standards describe how Positron Explained tries to avoid that, so that you can judge how far to rely on a page.
How we source
Every page names its sources at the foot. We prefer public bodies and professional societies, such as imaging societies, international agencies, national cancer and heart organisations, and peer-reviewed reviews. A figure only goes into a page if we have opened the source and found it there. If we cannot confirm a number, we leave it out or describe the idea without it.
Sources are chosen to avoid leaning on one country. Practice, coverage and approvals for tracers differ between countries, and we say so where it matters rather than describing one system as universal.
How we handle medical content
We explain what a test is, why it is used and what its general limits are. We do not tell readers to have, skip or delay a scan, we do not interpret individual results, and we do not recommend treatments. Where a page touches a decision that belongs to a patient and their doctors, it says so plainly. A result described on this site as typical or common is never a prediction for your own case.
How we write
We aim for plain words and short paragraphs, and we define a technical term the first time it appears. We state exceptions rather than hiding them. We avoid urgency, fear and promotional language. Pages do not carry advertising banners or product recommendations.
Updates and corrections
Each page shows the date it was last updated. We add and revise pages over time, and we recheck a page when a major source changes its guidance. If you find an error, an out-of-date statement or a broken source link, tell us through the contact form. We correct factual errors in the page itself and update the date, and we do not quietly leave a known mistake in place.
Independence
Positron Explained is independent of hospitals, universities, scanner makers and tracer suppliers. Mentions of a tracer, a scanner type or an organisation are descriptions, not endorsements. Read more about the project on the about page, and see further reading for places to continue.
Frequently asked questions
Is a doctor or scientist reviewing these pages?
We do not claim medical review. Pages are written from named public sources and checked against them, and the sources are listed so that you or your own clinician can verify any statement.
Can you tell me what my scan result means?
No. Only the specialists who have your images and your history can do that. The page on common report terms explains the vocabulary so that you can ask better questions of them.
How do I suggest a source or report a mistake?
Use the contact form and include the page address and, if you can, the public source that disagrees with us. We read every message that arrives.
The short version
Sources are named and opened, figures are verified or left out, and the site stays out of personal medical advice. When something is wrong, it is corrected where you will see it.