At Northern Arizona Radiology we proudly offer a highly sophisticated hybrid PET/CT scanner for our patients.
Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has been assimilated as one of the most important diagnostic modalities in cancer imaging.
Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging or a PET scan, is a type of nuclear medicine exam which incorporates the benefits of computerized tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine to produce 3D images of the body’s organs and tissues.
Images are used to evaluate and treat a variety of diseases. PET scans are used most often to detect cancer in the body and to examine the effects of a cancer therapy. PET scans of only the brain can be used to evaluate patients who have memory or seizure disorders.
Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging or a PET scan, is a type of nuclear medicine exam which incorporates the benefits of computerized tomography (CT) and nuclear medicine to produce 3D images of the body’s organs and tissues.
Images are used to evaluate and treat a variety of diseases. PET scans are used most often to detect cancer in the body and to examine the effects of a cancer therapy. PET scans of only the brain can be used to evaluate patients who have memory or seizure disorders.
PET imaging acquires images based on the detection of radiation emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the patient. The radioactive substance is attached, or tagged, to a natural body compound, most commonly glucose. Once this substance is administered to the patient via a small butterfly needle or intravenous catheter, the radioactivity localizes in the appropriate areas of the body and is detected by the PET scanner.
Different colors or degrees of brightness on a PET/CT image represent different levels of tissue or organ function which may be indicative of specific diseases.
PET imaging acquires images based on the detection of radiation emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the patient. The radioactive substance is attached, or tagged, to a natural body compound, most commonly glucose. Once this substance is administered to the patient via a small butterfly needle or intravenous catheter, the radioactivity localizes in the appropriate areas of the body and is detected by the PET scanner.
Different colors or degrees of brightness on a PET/CT image represent different levels of tissue or organ function which may be indicative of specific diseases.
A technologist will take you into a special injection room. In this room, a blood glucose will be drawn and a radioactive substance will be administered through the vein. The wait time pre-scan for most PET scans are approximately 30 to 60 minutes with few exceptions. During this time, you will be asked to rest quietly and avoid significant movement or talking. After that time scanning will begin. This may take 15 to 45 minutes.
Usually, there are no restrictions after the test, although you should drink plenty of fluids to flush the radioactive substance from your body.
A technologist will take you into a special injection room. In this room, a blood glucose will be drawn and a radioactive substance will be administered through the vein. The wait time pre-scan for most PET scans are approximately 30 to 60 minutes with few exceptions. During this time, you will be asked to rest quietly and avoid significant movement or talking. After that time scanning will begin. This may take 15 to 45 minutes.
Usually, there are no restrictions after the test, although you should drink plenty of fluids to flush the radioactive substance from your body.
PET is usually done on an outpatient basis. You should:
We understand that people looking for various exams may have a lot of questions, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can walk with you during this trying time.
When it comes to high-tech imaging and tracking of cancer, nothing matches the amazing capabilities of today’s PET/CT machine. The technology combines positron emission tomography (PET) scanning with computed tomography (CT) scanning. PET uses small amounts of radiation to show how well various organs are functioning; CT provides detailed images of organs and tissues. The combined result is highly detailed 3-D images of the function and structure of various parts of the body.
The first PET/CT prototype was unveiled in 1998 at the University of Pittsburg, and it was first introduced into clinical use in 2001. PET/CT has emerged as one of the fastest growing modalities worldwide according to the Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology.
The vast majority of PET/CT imaging is for cancer (oncology) diagnosis and treatment. Oncologists use PET/CT scans to determine how fast a tumor is growing and to track how well chemotherapy or radiation therapy is working. If a cancerous tumor or mass needs to be surgically removed, a PET/CT scan can help a surgeon plan how to best treat or remove the cancer, while leaving as much healthy tissue as possible.
PET/CT has been shown to have a major impact on how patients are treated. For example, a study in the July 2012 issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine showed that more than 40 percent of lung cancer (non-small cell) patients had their course of treatment changed when physicians had PET/CT information as opposed to only conventional imaging.
PET/CT imaging may also be used to diagnose and treat heart disease as well as brain disorders, including dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors and seizure disorders.
The procedure itself is painless and completely non-invasive. Upon arrival at a hospital, cancer center or imaging center, the patient is given an IV injection of the radioactive tracer and asked to rest quietly. The radioactive tracer can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to make its way to the part of the body being scanned. Once the tracer has reached its destination, the patient is asked to lie on the PET/CT scanner table for 30 to 45 minutes as the machine goes to work. Once the scan is complete, the patient is free to resume normal activities.
Today’s PET/CT scanners are more comfortable and faster than previous technology. Future developments promise even more accurate detection and diagnosis of disease at earlier, more treatable stages and with less radiation.
