P.E.T./CT Scanning
P.E.T. / CT can reveal cancer at an early stage.
PET/CT is a powerful combination of the Positron Emission Tomography (P.E.T.) and Computed Tomography (CT) technologies revolutionizes the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In one exam using one system, PET/CT produces images of the patient’s anatomy, while looking at chemical and physiological changes in the body. Patients receive a dose of a tracer-containing substance that accumulates in diseased tissue. The patient then lies on a table that moves through the scanner. The scanner creates a picture of the patient’s body and detects the tracer in the tissue. PET/CT scans often reveal metastatic cancer at its earliest stages, which other imaging techniques may not detect.
The information from the PET/CT scan helps doctors pinpoint the location of active cancer cells in tumors and lesions precisely in the body and assists them in planning cancer treatments. In addition, the PET/CT helps the doctors to monitor the progress of cancer treatments and allows them to adjust their treatment plans accordingly.
This unique and effective diagnostic tool offers many benefits to patients, including:
- Single exam and less exam time. Less time is spent on the table and results typically are available within one hour
- Reduction in invasive procedures such as biopsies
- Confidence in the high resolution results