A Blog for Healthcare Consumers

PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. PET and PET CT scans are medical imaging tests that physicians use primarily use to discover, treat, and monitor cancer. They use low dose radioactive material and computers to create images of internal organs for a physician Radiologist to interpret.

PET scans are very good at identifying small "islands" of cancer and when combined with a CT scan can locate cancerous lymph nodes and tumors in internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart and brain.

Recent advances which fuse PET and CT scan images have lead to PET scan's growing use in cancer diagnosis and treatment. PET scans look for:

• Colorectal cancer
• Lung cancer
• Melanoma
• Lymphoma
• Esophageal cancer
  

Other uses include evaluating heart muscle viability and bloodflow, brain seizure activity and diagnosing memory disorders.

What to do before your PET scan:

It helps to be prepared in advance of your appointment time. You will need to get a Radiology referral or prescription from your doctor. Check to make sure the facility you choose takes your insurance plan and your plan has authorized the PET scan. Get preparation instructions from the facility’s staff in advance as most PET scans require special preparation instructions.  Let the facility know if you are diabetic or are on medication. Although you should follow your doctor’s advice, you can choose any local imaging center to perform your PET scan. If you are uninsured you can use our website to look up PET scan costs, find a local imaging center, and buy your test.

What to expect during and after your PET scan:

• The PET scan appointment may take up to 2 hours. Plan accordingly.
• PET scan tests will require an injection. An IV is placed and a radiotracer is injected before the scanner takes pictures.
• You may need to take a film or CD copy of your PET scan to your doctor.
• A physician Radiologist will interpret the PET scan. A report is sent to your doctor.

Have you had any good (or bad) experiences with a PET or PET CT scan? Is there a center you’d recommend? Leave your comments below.