What is a PET scan?
P.E.T. (PET) means Positron Emission Tomography. Positron is an anti-matter of electrons. Positron emitting radionuclides include carbon-11 oxygen-15 nitrogen-13 and flourine-18. These atoms are physiologically important because they form carbohydrates, proteins and fatty acids. Positron-emitting radionuclides can be used in labeling physiologically important molecules. With the help of these labeled molecules it is possible to access and get an image representing function of the body. Therefore, PET scans provide functional information that can help determine if there is malignant tumor activity in an organ and the condition of tissue in an area.
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a unique type of imaging test that helps doctors see how the organs and tissues inside your body are actually functioning. The test involves injecting a very small dose of a radioactive chemical, called a radiotracer, into the vein of your arm. The tracer travels through the body and is absorbed by the organs and tissues being studied. Next, you will be asked to lie down on a flat examination table that is moved into the center of a PET scanner—a doughnut-like shaped machine. This machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer substance and, with the aid of a computer, this energy is converted into three-dimensional pictures. A physician can then look at cross-sectional images of the body organ from any angle in order to detect any functional problems. What problems can a PET scan detect?
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a special kind of imaging test which allows doctors to see how certain tissues and organs within the body are functioning. The most significant difference between a PET scan and other imaging tests such as MRI or CT scan is the ability to detect changes in the body at the cellular level rather than after a disease has progressed enough to actually effect the surrounding tissue or organs. A PET scan may be useful for helping to detect certain types of cancer, brain disorders, heart problems, and other conditions of the central nervous system. A PET scan is performed by injecting a small amount of radioactive chemical into a vein. As the chemical travels through the body, it is absorbed by the organs and tissues. During the test, a scanner records the energy produced by the cells.
PET stands for Position Emission Tomography, and a PET scan is an innovative imaging method used to detect diseases. PET scans can help diagnosis deadly diseases, and PET scans have definitely saved lives. The pictures produced by a PET scan enable doctors to see images that CT scans and x-rays are unable to capture. Doctors are able to watch bodily functions rather than simple pictures of the anatomy.
A PET scan, or Positron Emission Tomography scan, is an imaging technique that allows physicians to examine many organs of the body and is helpful in diagnosing many diseases, such as cancer. Other techniques, such as CT scan or MRI, only show organ structure, where as PET shows organ structure and function. PET is able to differentiate between malignant and benign tumors since it shows how the organ functions. PET can detect if a disease has moved from one part of the body to another, which is not evident clinically or through routine imaging. By uncovering abnormalities that might otherwise go undetected, PET guides physicians to the most appropriate treatment. What s involved in the procedure? During a PET scan, a patient receives an injection of a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) into their bloodstream. There is no danger from this injection. The radiation exposure associated with PET is similar to that of conventional CT scanning. Next, the patient will wait about an ho
