If your doctor ever refers you for a PET scan, you will be introduced to a fairly new medical imaging technique. Since this emerging modality is so new, a lot of the general public is not aware of what a PET scan exactly is. This essay will help explain the concept of this modality and the characteristics of it that allow doctors to diagnose and manage the proper care for some of today's most devastating medical conditions known to man.
Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging or a PET scan, is a diagnostic examination that uses positively charged particles. The particles are radioactive positrons that detect changes in the body's metabolism and chemical activities. Positrons are tiny particles emitted from a radioactive
…show more content…
However, as advances in PET technologies continue, this procedure is beginning to be used more widely in other areas.
PET scans are used most often to detect cancer. A PET scan can be particularly effective in identifying if you have specific cancer, if it has spread. These scans can be performed on the whole body. In addition, a scan can be valuable in evaluating the effectiveness of chemotherapy. It is an excellent test to monitor for recurrence of disease. PET shows whether or not a cancerous tumor is benign or malignant. No other imaging technique can do this. Also it allows for finding the extent of a cancer which is better known as staging. Early intervention is PET's most important benefit. The earlier the detection, the likelier the cure
PET is the most accurate test to reveal coronary artery disease and impaired blood flow or to rule out its presence. A PET scan may reveal early coronary artery disease and damaged or dead heart muscle due to a heart attack. It can also tell the difference between nonfunctioning dead heart muscle from poorly functioning heart muscle that would benefit from a procedure, such as heart surgery, angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery or an implant, to increase blood flow to heart muscle. Therefore, it can also be
Neurosurgeons interpret results of diagnostic tests such as CT scans and PET scans to diagnose patients.
The photons are then tracked by a tomographic scintillation counter, and the information is processed by a computer to provide both image and data on blood flow and metabolic processes within bodily tissues. PET scans are particularly useful for diagnosing brain tumor and the effects of strokes on the brain, along with various mental illnesses. They are also used in brain research and in mapping of brain functions.
PET is the only method that can detect and display metabolic changes in tissue, distinguish normal tissue from those that are diseased, such as in cancer, differentiate viable from dead or dying tissue, show regional blood flow, and determine the distribution and
In nuclear medicine diagnosing techniques, a very small amount of radioactive material is introduced into the body. Because medical isotopes are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues, the emissions they produce can provide crucial information about a particular type of cancer or disease. Information gathered during a nuclear medicine technique is more comprehensive than other imaging procedures because it describes organ function, not just structure. The result is that many diseases and cancers can be diagnosed much earlier.
Radionuclide testing indicates how strongly the heart pumps and it shows the flow of blood in the heart. There is a small amount of
FDG-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is not routinely performed as part of the diagnostic work up for Alzheimer’s disease. Thus, it is not the standard of care to rule in or rule out a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
When it comes to medical imaging, there are several different options to choose from for different testing. There are similarities and differences; pros and cons to each. This paper will discuss MRI, CT, and ultrasound. They each have important things to know regarding radiation dose, cost, and reasons to use one over another.
Veterinarians often use diagnostic imaging to help get a look at an animal from the inside. Radiological imaging is one of the greatest devices for veterinarians especially in circumstances such as broken bones, tumors, unusual symptoms, and complications. In such settings a veterinary radiologist skilled in taking and reading radiographic image can assist with diagnosis and treatment. Specifically, osteosarcoma which is the most common bone tumor found in dogs.
As early as 1996, Moon et al evaluated the use of Whole-Body Fluorine-18-FDG PET in 57 patients suspected to have recurrent or metastatic breast cancer and proved that FDG PET was 93% sensitive and 79% specific
Modern medicine is capable of treating a tremendous range of human disease and injuries, but the usefulness of all medical specialties depends on accurate diagnosis. Virtually every conceivable medical specialty relies on radiological technologies to provide formal diagnoses, making radiology one of the most important of all medical specialties. Radiologists enjoy some of the best working conditions in modern medicine and typically experience very positive employment conditions. Consequently, their services are generally in very high demand, with many starting out with six-figure annual incomes immediately after completion of their professional training.
PET: Position-emission tomography... Based on metabolic changes in the brain related to activity. Measures amount of glucose in various areas.
Fused PET/CT is a recently developed technology that couples the functional information of PET with the anatomic details of CT (8).
• A PET (positron emission tomography) scan may help to show cancer activity in some other parts of the body. This can be helpful for “staging” the cancer (see
Radiotracers help doctors diagnose and evaluate the degree of severity of the disease. The tracers are injected, swallowed, or inhaled. Special cameras used by the doctor to detect molecular information then detect the emissions from the radiotracers. One of the most important procedures in nuclear medicine is the MRI, or the magnetic resonance
Modern medicine has undergone major advancements over the past years. One of these developments include the capacity to retrieve crucial information about the human body and its health beyond the use of manual diagnostic techniques. This is referred to as Medical or Diagnostic Imaging.