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The
NorCal Imaging PET scanner facilitates diagnoses and determines
the extent of various cancers not detected by other imaging modalities.
PET also makes it possible to detect adjunct neurological disorders
such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. PET scanning is also used
to assist in determining if reversible damage has occurred to the
heart muscle from a heart attack.
 What
is PET?
Positron Emission
Tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that allows the physician
to examine the whole patient at once. PET produces function images
of the brain, heart and other organs unobtainable by other modalities.
The images display body metabolism rather than anatomy revealed
by conventional
x-rays or CT scans. PET scanning uncovers abnormalities before changes
in anatomy occur as reflected by sugar usage and thereby guides
physicians to the most appropriate treatment protocol.
PET
Imaging is most commonly used to assist in diagnosing:
- Lung
Cancer
- Ovarian
Cancer
- Breast
Cancer
- Lymphomas
- Head
& Neck Tumors
- Melanoma
- Residual
Brain Tumors after
Radiation Therapy
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- Pancreatic
Cancer
- Coronary
Artery Disease
- Parkinson's
Disease
- Epilepsy
- Alzheimer's
Disease
- Other
forms of dementia
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How
does PET Work?
The PET images are created through the
combination of three state-of-the-art instruments:
- A
Cyclotron which produces short-lived, radioactive isotopes.
- A
whole body Scanner which maps the distribution of the tracer
as the positrons interact with electrons in the body, creating
radiation that can be detected outside the body.
- A
Computer which reconstructs the patterns of detected radioactivity
into 3-dimensional pictures of the metabolism throughout the body.
Why
PET?
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PET:
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- images
and measures metabolic processes
- validates
and/or alters patient care
- reduces
patient risk
- improves
patient outcome
- decreases
overall healthcare costs
- is
covered by many insurers
- is
covered by Medicare and Medical
- is
painless
- detects
cancer in the early stages
- confirms
the treatment path
- assists
in directing treatment protocols
- can
assist in appropriate treatment of Coronary Artery Disease
- identifies
early stages of neurological diseases
- saves
lives
- is
Power!
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Are
there risks associated with PET scanning?
No. Patient exposure to radiation is similar
to the exposure involved in standard nuclear medicine procedures.
Click
below for information on:
A PET Interesting Case and PET Patient Comments:
Preparation
for a PET Scan
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