When is PET Imaging Conducted?
A positron emission tomography scan is often used to help doctors diagnose, monitor, and treat several cancers, including lung, lymphomas, and head and neck cancer. They also help them find tumor locations and determine if treatment is working for patients. A PET scanner uses a radioactive tracer to show the abnormal (cancerous) cells in the body. Doctors can examine every part of a patient's body and identify cancer. Known as Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), the radioactive tracer is often attached to fluorine-18. When the glucose is absorbed by body cells, the fluorine-18 will break down and release gamma rays and positrons. Cancer cells are always aggressive, and they grow and multiply fast as they take in more sugar. On PET scans, cancerous cells will glow brighter. Here is why PET scans are conducted: · Sometimes doctors perform PET scans on neurology and cardiology patients. · And whenever a patient has symptoms, doctors will use a PET sca