About PET/CT Imaging

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PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and CT (Computed Tomography) scans are unique, powerful imaging tools that physicians use to pinpoint disease states in the body. A PET scan detects areas of high metabolic activity within the body. It can identify changes that take place at the cellular level when disease, such as cancer, is present. This is accomplished by injecting a small amount of glucose (sugar) that is combined with a safe, short-lived radioactive material (FDG) into the body. The FDG accumulates in areas of high metabolic activity such as the heart and bladder, as well as in abnormal cancer cells that are highly metabolic and use more glucose than normal cells. The scan is able to detect the earliest signs of disease in the body.

A CT scan, which combines x-ray technology with advanced computer applications, provides detailed information about the body's anatomy, including information on the size, shape and location of an abnormality. CT is able to produce extremely thin cross sectional images or “slices” of the body that allow for accurate measurements of the body’s anatomical structure. CT is a primary source of information in oncology evaluation.

Recent advances in technology have resulted in the development of a scanner that fuses PET and CT images together. Since both sets of images are obtained simultaneously with the patient in one position in one scanner, there is no difficulty matching results. The end result is a full-body image that indicates whether disease is present; and if so, how active it is, whether or not it has spread, precisely where an abnormality is located, and how large it is. This more complete picture of a patient’s health status enables physicians to more accurately diagnose and identify cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders, in addition to provide early diagnosis and treatment of an illness.

Our goal is to make your visit as comfortable as possible, as well as to provide your doctor or provider with a speedy and accurate interpretation of the results of your PET/CT exam. If you have any questions or concerns about your exam, please do not hesitate to ask your health care provider.

PET/CT can effectively pinpoint the source of many of the most common cancers, heart disease and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, eliminating the need for redundant tests and diagnostic surgical procedures.

PET/CT is a powerful, proven diagnostic imaging modality that displays the biological basis of function in the organ systems of the human body unobtainable through any other means.

PET/CT can tell whether a tumor is benign or cancerous.

PET/CT shows all the organ systems of the body in a single exam, so it can indicate whether or not cancer has spread.

PET/CT diagnoses disease often before it shows up on other tests.

PET/CT shows the progress of disease and how the body responds to treatment.

Medicare now covers PET/CT imaging for many cancer indications, such as lung, breast, colorectal, head and neck and esophageal cancer, lymphoma and melanoma. Coverage is also available for epilepsy, and heart disease.

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