PET / CT

Positron emission tomography (PET) works by revealing changes in the body’s chemistry that can aid in diagnosing, staging or restaging many types of diseases and neurological problems such as, cancers, Epilepsy, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Brain Tumors.

With cancer, these changes can occur before a mass or tumor starts to organize and form.About an hour before the exam, patients are given a small amount of radioactive glucose. The exam will reveal where the glucose has been metabolized, indicating the function and malignant potential of cancer cells or lesions.

A PET/CT combines two non-invasive procedures, PET and computed tomography (CT), into one single scan. The PET scan reveals potential diseases, like cancer, at the biological level. The CT scan reveals three-dimensional images of your anatomy by using a combination of X-rays and computers. The result is an extremely accurate exam that allows your physician to diagnose a problem by locating a tumor or diseased area with unparalleled precision. In most cases, a PET/CT exam can identify cancer cells before they become a tumor. This exam can also help your physician determine if a mass is benign or malignant with staging, if treatment is effective and if there are additional tumors unseen by conventional imaging.

TGH Imaging conveniently offers PET/CT exams at multiple locations. A PET/CT scanner is a large machine with a round, donut-shaped, shallow hole in the middle, like a CT or MRI machine. A patient can expect a comfortable experience with the help of our expert trained technologists who are there to help you through every step of the exam. Our nuclear medicine radiologists are board-certified in both radiology and nuclear medicine, providing patients a thorough diagnosis with subspecialized expertise.

To prepare, please do not eat or drink anything except plain water, 6 hours prior to appointment. This includes no coffee gum, mints, cough drops, candy, etc. If you are diabetic, do not take your diabetes medication (Insulin and non-insulin) 6 hours prior to exam. All other medications are okay. Glucose must be below 250mg/dL in order for the test to work.  Limit physical exercise 48 hours prior to exam. Please drink plenty of water.