PET / CT of Las Colinas

PET (positron emission tomography) scans help to deliver clear images of the biological functions of the body. They help to detect disease quicker compared to other imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. A PET scan is a highly technological nuclear procedure that is very safe with no known potential side effects. The risks for this procedure apply only to a few cases. The procedure requires the patient to be injected with a radioactive tracer, which is compounded with low dose radioisotope and sugar.   The radioactive compound travels to the location being imaged while the patient rests still on the scanner for about 40 to 45 minutes. Once it reaches the cancer location, the tracer will emit signals, which will be translated into images by a computer. During cancer diagnosis, doctors want to look at all angles of the disease, including the possible causes and consequences. PET can be combined with other imaging tech...

New research has found that measuring glucose PET scans are better indicators of the advancement of Alzheimer's disease compared to amyloid PET scans. A medical trial targeting beta-amyloid plaque was carried out. It indicates that toxic proteins and shortage of glucose in the brain as people get old can lead to Alzheimer's disease. The research carried out in Perelman School of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, and Thomas Jefferson University shows that FDG-PET makes a better diagnosis on the progress of Alzheimer's disease and MCI compared to florbetapir-PET scans which measure amyloid levels. The FDG PET scan checks the brain's glucose intake and its effect on neurons, thus providing the doctor with a better understanding of Alzheimer treatments work. FDG-PET and florbetapir-PET scans are recommendable diagnosis methods for Alzheimer’s disease. They also appear to show a form of cognitive impairment. However, studies reveal that FDG-PET is much p...

Lymphoma is a type of cancer affecting the immune system. It is classified into Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These two types are further categorized into several subtypes. Doctors use PET scans many times in the treatment of lymphoma, starting with determining the stage at which the cancer is, monitoring treatment response and giving a prognosis. It is effective for some forms of lymphoma specifically Hodgkin lymphoma and a number of the common subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. PET scans remain an important part of a patient’s cancer journey and here is why: ·         The usual practice is to perform a scan before treatment begins so the doctors can find out the stage of the cancer. In some instances, the doctors may go straight to treatment and then conduct the scan afterwards for various reasons including scheduling issues or urgency of the treatment. ·         Once treatment begins, th...