PET, PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine

Many of the facilities staffed by Radiology and Nuclear Medicine radiologists offer Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Nuclear Medicine Services.

PET/CT combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computed Tomography (CT) technology to aid in the diagnosis of cancer. PET/CT is also a valuable tool for determining the extent to which cancer has spread and how a patient is responding to treatment. In addition, PET can be used to evaluate patients with cardiac and neurological disorders such as seizures and dementia.

PET is a nuclear medicine test that uses special imaging cameras and a radioactive solution called FDG (Flurodeoxyglucose) to create very clear pictures of cell metabolism. CT uses X-rays to provide detailed information about the location, size, and shape of lesions or growths in the body. When combined in a single machine, the two techniques provide accurate, specific information about where abnormalities are located and whether they are cancerous.

Nuclear medicine uses radioactive materials to help diagnose a variety of diseases and disorders. It can be helpful in assessing how different parts of your body are functioning, such as your thyroid, heart, bones, brain, lung, liver and gallbladder.

During the procedure, you are given a low-level radioactive compound that accumulates in the organ being examined. That organ will then continuously emit radiation that is detected by a special camera and processed through a computer. Patients typically do not experience side effects or allergic reactions since most of the compounds used in nuclear medicine are naturally-occurring substances in the body.

Check with the facility convenient to you to confirm availability of PET, PET/CT or Nuclear Medicine services.

For more Health Information go to...

http://www.radiologynuclearmed.com/health_info