PET/CT

PET/CT, or Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography, is a nuclear medicine procedure that produces images of the body's biological functions. This exam is capable of detecting certain diseases because it is able to capture chemical and physiological changes related to metabolism. This is important since functional changes are often present before structural changes in tissues; therefore, demonstrating pathological changes long before they would be evident with conventional diagnostic imaging methods. The exam takes approximately two hours.

An injection called FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) is produced specially for each patient and is time sensitive because of its natural decay. This makes it very important that you arrive on time for your study. First an injection is made, followed by a 30 minute resting period. You are then placed on the PET scanner bed with scanning time of approximately one hour.

The PET scanner is doughnut shaped and resembles a CT scanner. The signals emitted by the FDG are recorded and reassembled by the computer into images that contain vital information about tissue function. The test is highly sensitive and allows better diagnosis, staging and follow-up of patients undergoing therapy.

If you have been referred to us for a PET scan, you will be contacted by one of our scheduling staff members to discuss additional instructions for the study.

Preparing for a PET/CT.