PET Imaging
PET Imaging is a powerful tool in treating many serious conditions. PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. It is a procedure that produces powerful images of the human body’s biological functions. PET scans are safe and can be performed in a few hours as an outpatient procedure. Unlike conventional imaging systems such as X-Rays, CTs, Ultrasounds, and MRIs, PET does not show body structure (anatomy). Instead, PET shows the chemical function (metabolism) of an organ or tissue. PET is used to help diagnose and treat a number of different diseases, including Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, and Seizure Disorders. In Cancer applications, PET provides Tumor Imaging and has proven to be very accurate in identifying the extent of malignant disease.
To receive a PET scan, a patient is injected with a small amount of radioactive glucose. This glucose is called a “tracer” and is distributed throughout the body. There is no danger from this injection. After the injection, the patient relaxes for about an hour. Then, he or she lies on a scanning bed. The bed moves slowly through the scanner while it detects the injected tracer. When the imaging procedure is complete, the scanner sends the resulting information to a computer. The computer generates numerous images that will be reviewed by a specially trained physician.