The scan will take place in a special designated room, where the individual will lie down on a cushioned examination table. However, it is also possible to breathe in the tracer as a gas, take it by mouth, or receive an injection directly into an organ.ĭepending on which organ is involved, it may take 30–90 minutes for the radiotracer to reach the targeted part of the body. In most cases, the doctor will inject a small amount of radiotracer into a vein. They may have to avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours before the scan. Typically, the person should not consume any food for at least 4-6 hours before the scan, but they should drink plenty of water. Medical research: Researchers can learn vital information, especially about the workings of the brain, by using PET scans.Ī PET scan is usually an outpatient procedure.This information can help doctors plan treatment options for heart disease. Heart disease: A PET scan can help detect which parts of the heart have become damaged or scarred, and it can help identify circulation problems in the working of the heart.A PET scan can give an idea of how well chemotherapy is working, and it can detect a recurring tumor sooner than other techniques. Cancer: PET scans can reveal the presence and stage of a cancer, show whether and where it has spread, and help doctors decide on treatment.Affected brain cells tend to have reduced use of glucose compared with healthy cells. Alzheimer’s disease: PET scans can help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease by measuring the uptake of sugar in specific parts of the brain.This can help doctors decide on the most suitable treatment, and it can be useful if surgery is necessary. Epilepsy: A PET scan can reveal which part of the brain epilepsy is affecting.While an MRI or CT scan shows how part of the body looks, a PET scan can reveal how it is functioning.ĭoctors commonly use PET scans to investigate a number of conditions. Oxygen can also work in place of glucose. FDG is the most commonly used radiotracer today. The radiologist will examine the image that the computer produces and report the findings to a doctor.Īn example of a glucose-based radiotracer is fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), in which radioactive fluoride molecules are tagged to glucose to make a radiotracer. These are “cold spots.”Ĭompared with healthy cells, cancer cells are very active in using glucose, so a radiotracer made with glucose will light up areas of cancer. They are known as “hot spots.” Where cells need less energy, the areas will be less bright. The cells, or activity, will show up as “hot spots” or “cold spots.” Active areas are bright on a PET scan. This will show up on images that a computer reconstructs. The more energy a group of cells needs, the more the radiotracer will build up in that location. The radiologist injects this radiotracer into the person’s body, where it travels to cells that use glucose for energy. A radiotracer consists of radioactive material tagged to a natural chemical, such as glucose. In a PET scan, a machine detects the radiation that a radiotracer emits.
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