What Is a PET Scan?

Many people call to ask exactly "What is a PET scan?" Positron Emission Tomography is a relatively new modality to the medical scene. It was introduced in 1974 but was still considered "experimental" in 2001. Today, however it has advanced to a highly diagnostic tool for physicians to use for diagnosis and treatment. The procedure is performed in the Nuclear Medicine Dept..(most often) where a radioactive isotope is injected into the bloodstream. This material is tagged, or mixed, with another agent to enable it to enhance a particular organ. After the injection the patient is placed
on a table, most often on their back, and moved into a machine. This machine is open on the sides so it isn't as constraining as the MRI machine. The machine scans the patient and sends information to a computer where it is processed and sent to the Radiologist for interpretation.
PET scanning has become a vital tool in the treatment of cancer patients. It can provide the Oncologist and Radiologist detailed information regarding the stages of cancer as well as the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therepy treatments.Many times it is performed along with a CT exam. CAT scans can provide excellent detail of the anatomy in a 3-D representation. PET scans don't show the anatomy as well, but can provide great information regarding the functioning of the organs demonstrated.