PET stands for “positron emission tomography.” A PET scan is an imaging technique that is used to examine inside body parts and to test how well your whole body is working. The PET scan procedure is largely used to detect cancers, brain conditions, and heart diseases. With the help of PET scan, doctors examine the body organs and check if they are functioning properly or not. A PET scan provides a doctor with information about blood flow and how your body is utilizing sugar and oxygen.

PET scan is usually paired with a CT scan to detect cancer stages and diagnose cancer cells in the body.

Below are some essential things you would want to know about the PET Scan procedure.

1. What is the difference between PET-CT and CT scans?

CT Scan: A CT scan or a Computed Tomography scan uses x-ray radiation to create cross-sectional pictures of the body’s organs and tissues. CT scan is ideal for monitoring body tissues, cancer stages and assessing heart diseases.

PET-CT Scan: A PET-CT scan or Positron Emission Tomography is a combined procedure that is used to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissue. The combined Scan gives a better and detailed picture of the patient’s body organs. It will tell the doctor which body parts are working properly. It also tells which part is healing or where the treatment is working.

2. Why might a person need a PET scan?

A PET scan is done for various reasons, but it is commonly used for cancer detection, heart conditions, and brain diseases. It can also assist doctors in understanding and determining how well the treatment is going.

A doctor may recommend taking a PET scan for the following reasons:

For detecting cancer
To determine if cancer has returned after the treatment is done.
To check if cancer has spread or not.
To determine the treatment process and its working.

Your doctor might use a PET scan to determining heart diseases:

To check areas of blood flow
Irregular heartbeat
To find the treatment for clogged arteries
To determine the consequences of a heart attack

Your doctor may recommend a PET scan to determine brain conditions as well.

3. What will the PET Scan Preparation Look Like?

It is a simple procedure. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, medications you are taking and current medical conditions you are suffering from. You will get the information about everything you need to do for the preparation of the PET scan.

A PET scan is considerably a safe procedure and is known for its successful detection of cancer, breast cancer, and cancer recurrence. PET scan provides the most successful result during the diagnosis of certain diseases, thus, increasing the possibility of receiving the right treatment at the right time.