PET SCAN

There are new discoveries almost daily in the health care arena. One of the most recent discoveries is the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanning. This type of scanning has improved the early diagnosis and evaluation of the spread of cancer in patients. This scan can help physicians determine the stage of cancer and therefore help to determine if surgical removal of the cancer is an option. It will also help to determine if cancer has recurred or if scar tissue is present.

The PET scan has a camera that produces powerful images of the human's biological functions and reveals abnormalities throughout the body. The new PET scans are more accurate than the traditional CAT scans or MRI tests.

The patient is first injected in a vein with a compound labeled with signal-emitting tracers. The PET scan works by reading the signals the tracers emit as they travel through the body and collect in the various organs. A computer reassembles these signals into actual images. These images help the physician determine if and where abnormalities exist and what would be the most beneficial therapies. The PET scan will help answer some of the most important questions related to the cancer diagnosis: Where is the tumor? Is the Tumor benign or malignant? Is the treatment working? Has the cancer spread?

In addition to the PET scan usage in cancer it is also effective in cardiology and neurology (Alzheimer's, Epilepsy, Parkinson). In a world of limited resources the PET scan will save time, money, and most importantly lives.