What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a type of nuclear medicine procedure that measures metabolic activity of the cells of body tissues. PET is actually a combination of nuclear medicine and biochemical analysis. Used mostly in patients with brain or heart conditions and cancer, PET helps to visualize the biochemical changes taking place in body. a few uses of Whole body PET CT is mentioned here-
- To detect the spread of cancer to other parts of the body from the original cancer site
- To evaluate the effectiveness of cancer treatment
- To further identify lung lesions or masses detected on chest X-ray and/or chest CT
- To assist in the management and treatment of lung cancer by staging lesions and following the progress of lesions after treatment
- To detect recurrence of tumors earlier than with other diagnostic modalities
An image of NEURO PET
Why is Neuro PET performed?
In general, PET scans may be used to evaluate organs and/or tissues for the presence of disease or other conditions. PET may also be used to evaluate the function of organs, such as the heart or brain. The most common use of PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.
Specific reasons for NEURO PET scans include, but are not limited to, the following:
- To diagnose dementias (conditions that involve deterioration of mental function), such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other neurological conditions such as:
- Parkinson’s disease. A progressive disease of the nervous system in which a fine tremor, muscle weakness, and a peculiar type of gait are seen.
- Huntington’s disease. A hereditary disease of the nervous system which causes increasing dementia, bizarre involuntary movements, and abnormal posture.
- Epilepsy. A brain disorder involving recurrent seizures.
- Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
- To locate the specific surgical site prior to surgical procedures of the brain
- To evaluate the brain after trauma to detect hematoma (blood clot), bleeding, and/or perfusion (blood and oxygen flow) of the brain tissue
