PET CT Scan

Enhancing Patient Care

With PET CT Scan

A Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) Scan is an imaging modality that combines two robust imaging techniques - Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) that enables a more precise, accurate, and detailed imaging of the internal organs, tissues, and bones, among other body parts. PET-CT is often used for cancer screening and is often used to determine the process and stage of the cancer. PET and CT scans are commonly performed sequentially in the same setting using the same machine. PET-CT scan is often preferred when it is imperative to differentiate between benign and malignant tissues, guide biopsies, and to determine the spread of diseases. PET-CT Scans are powerful and versatile imaging techniques that combine the strengths of PET and CT scans to provide detailed and comprehensive information about the anatomical and metabolic processes of the body.

Overview of the Key Aspects of PET-CT Scan

About PET-CT Scans:

PET is a functional imaging technique that offers a detailed insight into the metabolic and biochemical processes of the body through the use of radioactive tracers that emit positrons when they decay. This radiotracer, when injected into the bloodstream of the patients, gets deposited in areas with higher metabolic rate, such as cancerous cells.

CT scan uses X-rays to generate high-quality cross-sectional images of the tissues, muscles, and organs. This scan, used in combination with PET, is often used to pinpoint the abnormalities detected by PET scan.

Procedure: 

●       Before the scan is scheduled, the patient is often advised to fast so as to avoid any complications or interruptions during the scan.

●       Before the scan begins, the patient will be made to sit in the chair for an hour as the radiotracer moves through the bloodstream of the patient.

●       For a PET-CT Scan, patients may also be injected with a contrast dye to generate more clear images.

●       After this, the patients are made to lie on the motorised examination table which slides inside the PET-CT scan machine.

●       During the scan, the patients are advised to stay still to avoid any blurry or complicated images.

●       The scan might take a minimum 30 minutes and the images generated are then later assessed by radiologists or specialists depending on the requirements.

Benefits: 

●       The scan is painless and takes almost only 30 minutes

●       Beneficial for assessing severe medical ailments such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and for mapping brain activity

●       Fused PET-CT scan enables precise localization and characterization of any detected abnormality

●       PET-CT scan can detect any anomalies or abnormalities at a very early stage enabling timely medical intervention and treatment

Before the scan, it is important for patients to let their healthcare providers know about any allergies and sensitivities to contrast agents and dyes. In case of pregnancy or pregnancy-related issues, it is important for the healthcare providers to be notified in advance to reduce the risks related to exposure to radiation.