What is PET Scan?
PET Scan is a type of imaging technology that is used to assess how well tissues and organs are working at the cellular level. It’s predominantly employed to diagnose early signs of cancer, heart disease & brain disorders, like brain tumors, epilepsy or dementia.
When to get a PET Scan?
A PET -CT Scan may be recommended by a doctor for inspecting blood flow, oxygen intake, or the metabolism of organs & tissues. It helps identify problems at the molecular level.
What happens in the process of PET Scan?
Prior to the scan, a short-acting radioactive substance, FDG would be introduced inside your body via a vein in the arm.
Then, there will be a waiting period of about 60 minutes, during which radiotracer is distributed within the body. You will then have to lie down and stay still on a table that will go inside the PET scan machine.
The PET scan machine will detect and translate the radiation emitted by the radiotracer into 3D images. The scan duration is usually 20-25minutes, Once the required images are captured, the scan will come to an end.
What conditions can be diagnosed with and when to get a PET Scan?
PET scan is largely used to diagnose various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases & brain disorders. Sometimes, it may be employed to detect vasculitis, bacterial infections and central nervous system infections.
Particularly speaking, PET-CT Scan is a crucial diagnostic tool for detecting cancer as it scans the whole body and indicates the location of the primary tumour as well as areas of metastases (areas where cancer has spread). Having said that, PET-CT scan has low sensitivity for detecting few malignancies owing to reduced FDG uptake, like brochioalveolar carcinoma.
Lastly, about neurological disorders, a PET scan can help measure brain activity with respect to areas of high & low metabolism. As the brain necessitates significant amounts of glucose & oxygen for normal functioning, any deficiencies can be readily detected on a PET scan.
Conclusion
To conclude, the PET-CT Scan is a vital diagnostic tool that plays a critical role in detecting various types of malignancies and evaluating their extent of spread.
If anyone in your family is experiencing symptoms of any type of cancer, heart disease, brain disorder or any condition mentioned above, then it’s recommended to consult a healthcare professional and get a PET scan done at the earliest!
For people living in Mulund and nearby areas, our newly inaugurated, state-of-the-art diagnostic centre in Thane is the best place to get a PET -CT scan done. Our highly-rated diagnostic centres offer convenient, reliable and accurate diagnostic services to our customers.
Schedule a PET -CT Scan today! Contact us 24×7 on 9504555555.
FAQ’s
Thakur, Kiran T., et al. “”Neurological disorders.”” Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (2016): 87.
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=wEviCwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA87&dq=neurological+disorders&ots=gZKW0_lSme&sig=fI3qjpn_110dYJEp1yAHwMnfung&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=neurological%20disorders&f=false