PET scans are merely a different 'tool' in imaging to aid in diagnostic procedure. With a PET scan we can obtain detailed information about metabolic activity. However, PET scans are not very good at showing size, shape and structure.
Essentially PET scans show what tissues are metabolically active and the location of this activity.
Positron Emission Tomography essentially show us how the organs and tissues are functioning. Thus a radioactive material is injected,.. the tracer is absorbed by the organs and tissues being imaged and the machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer substance and with the aid of the computer the energy is converted into three-dimensional pictures. From here we can look at cross-sectional images of the results to detect any "functional" problems.
PET scans measure things such as blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose metabolism which helps us identify abnormal from normal functioning organs and tissues within the body. PET scans are most commonly used to detect *certain* types of cancer, heart problems (ie: Coronary artery disease and/or damage to the heart following a myocardial infarction (heart attack) ), they also can detect brain disorders such as brain tumors, memory disorders and seizures.. among other Central nervous system disorders
PET scans work on the cellular level and as such can often pick up problems before structural abnormalities grossly present themselves.
Thus PET scans would be useless in detecting structural abnormalities -- which are the hallmark of other diagnostic imaging such as the basic XRAY, CT scan, and MRI. Thus if one had degenerative disc disease with one or more herniated discs, a PET scan would not be helpful. A PET scan would not pick up latent Multiple sclerosis with inactive lesions. A PET scan would not show essentially any major structural abnormalities.
PET scans are used most commonly in the diagnosis of cancer,.. ie: Lymphoma, esophageal carcinoma, and other cellular disease. That said, PET scans aren't the catch all for cancer -- they are just one tool in monitoring the progress of cancer and/or in the diagnostic process for early detection.
Essentially PET scans show what tissues are metabolically active and the location of this activity.
Positron Emission Tomography essentially show us how the organs and tissues are functioning. Thus a radioactive material is injected,.. the tracer is absorbed by the organs and tissues being imaged and the machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer substance and with the aid of the computer the energy is converted into three-dimensional pictures. From here we can look at cross-sectional images of the results to detect any "functional" problems.
PET scans measure things such as blood flow, oxygen use, and glucose metabolism which helps us identify abnormal from normal functioning organs and tissues within the body. PET scans are most commonly used to detect *certain* types of cancer, heart problems (ie: Coronary artery disease and/or damage to the heart following a myocardial infarction (heart attack) ), they also can detect brain disorders such as brain tumors, memory disorders and seizures.. among other Central nervous system disorders
PET scans work on the cellular level and as such can often pick up problems before structural abnormalities grossly present themselves.
Thus PET scans would be useless in detecting structural abnormalities -- which are the hallmark of other diagnostic imaging such as the basic XRAY, CT scan, and MRI. Thus if one had degenerative disc disease with one or more herniated discs, a PET scan would not be helpful. A PET scan would not pick up latent Multiple sclerosis with inactive lesions. A PET scan would not show essentially any major structural abnormalities.
PET scans are used most commonly in the diagnosis of cancer,.. ie: Lymphoma, esophageal carcinoma, and other cellular disease. That said, PET scans aren't the catch all for cancer -- they are just one tool in monitoring the progress of cancer and/or in the diagnostic process for early detection.
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