Positron Emission Tomography (also known as a PET Scan) is mostly used to detect signs of cancer and sometimes to assess certain heart disease or brain conditions. The PET scan is used in combination with a Computed Tomography (also known as a CT Scan) to produce 3-D images of your body. A radioactive tracer, which is injected into the body, will help to identify any diseased cells in your body because diseased cells will absorb more radioactive tracers compared to normal cells. These areas of diseased cells will appear as ‘hot or bright spots’ in your scan.
Indications for PET Scan
Your cancer doctor may suggest that you have a PET scan for the following reasons;
To assess whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body
To check if the cancer has gone or recurred after treatment
To evaluate the stage of your cancer (so that your cancer surgeon and cancer doctors can devise a treatment plan most suitable for you)
Click to view DesignScience video on PET scan
How long does a PET scan take?
The entire PET scan process may take up to 2-3 hours. You will be given an injection of a radioactive tracer which may take up to 50-60 minutes to be absorbed in your body. You will be required to sit and relax during this time. During the scan, you will need to lie down and be as still as possible. The actual scan time will be around 30 minutes.
Precautions
You should avoid strenuous activity the day before your PET Scan
You should avoid a PET Scan if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
You may need to fast for 6 hours before certain types of PET Scan (as your doctor whether you need to fast)
Your Doctors will discuss your Treatment Plan with you after getting the results from your PET Scan
Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.
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