Positron Emission Tomography, also called PET/CT, is a diagnostic examination where a radioactive substance is administered to the patient which results in a picture of function (PET), a picture of anatomy (CT), and a merged picture of both: the body’s metabolism and structure. This substance localizes to different areas of the body depending on changes in tissue metabolism, and is detected by the PET/CT scanner. The PET/CT scan allows doctors to evaluate a variety of diseases anywhere in the body. This technique is mostly used assess tumors of the brain, lung, colon, breast, head and neck, esophagus, and melanoma. In addition, PET/CT is used to evaluate neurological and cardiovascular disorders.
PET images begin with an injection of FDG, an analog of glucose that is tagged to the radionuclide F18. Metabolically active organs or tumors consume sugar at high rates, and as the tagged sugar starts to decay, it emits positrons. These positrons then collide with electrons, giving off gamma rays, and a computer converts the gamma rays into images. The CT image portion begins by send x-rays through the body, which are then measured by detectors in the CT scanner. A computer algorithm then processes those measurements to produce pictures of the body’s internal structures. Combined PET/CT joins the two imaging areas and is more accurate than PET and CT alone.
The benefits of a combined PET/CT scanner include:
The Scheduling Department will advise the patient about any specific preparation required for the procedure. The following is a list of the general preparations to be followed by all patients:
The PET/CT procedure typically lasts 2-3 hours. The amount of time involved to complete your scan will depend on the type of procedure your physician has requested. It begins with an intravenous injection of a small amount of radioactive glucose (18FDG). There are no known side effects to this injection. The patient will be asked to wait for 30 – 60 minutes for the 18FDG to distribute in the body. Movement, reading, or any other activity during that time may be restricted, as these will affect the pattern of 18FDG uptake. After that, the patient will be escorted to the imaging camera. The brief scan will be taken using the CT part of the scanner to provide a picture of the patient’s anatomy, which will take about 5 minutes. Then the PET scan pictures will be taken, which will last anywhere from 20 minutes to 65 minutes, depending on the exam ordered.
The PET/CT scanner is very similar in size to a CT scanner and looks like a large doughnut. The patient is asked to lie comfortably on the imaging table while the scanner detects the concentration of the tracer within the body, and generates CT, PET, and fusion images by use of computer software.
LOCATIONS (Click on each location to learn more) | |||
Edison Imaging at JFK Medical Center |
Advanced Medical Imaging of Old Bridge |
Advanced Medical Imaging of Toms River |
|
Dedicated MRI Facility Featuring High Field 3T MRI |
Free Standing Multi Modality Imaging Center |
Free Standing Multi Modality Imaging Center |
|
60 James Street Edison, NJ 08820 (732) 632-1650 |
3548 Route 9 South Old Bridge, NJ 08857 (732) 970-0420 |
1430 Hooper Avenue Toms River, NJ 08753 (732) 349-2867 |
Copyright © 2017 Edison Radiology Group