A PET scan is one of modern medicine’s most useful and effective imaging technologies. It plays a crucial role in the detection and diagnosis of many disorders and diseases in the human body.
Find Out What A PET Scan Test at Chennai Entails!
PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. As the name suggests, these scans use the emission of positrons (a type of atomic particle) by a tracer drug to get a visual representation of the chemical processes and functions happening inside the body. The radioactive tracer is usually ingested, injected, or inhaled into the body. It emits a differential number of positrons based on blood flow, oxygen use and other metabolic activity markers at any given part of the body. These atomic emissions are then manipulated to provide a 3D image of the physiological processes occurring in the body. Any deviations from the normal that shows up on the scan indicates impaired functioning or disease.
At Anderson Pet Scan Chennai, the scanner is integrated with a Computed Tomography (CT) scanner to get a holistic picture of both the physical and functional aspects of the body. A PET/CT scan thus points out the problematic areas in the body at a cellular level, aiding in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of various disorders.
PET/CT scans at the best diagnostics labs in Chennai are predominantly used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Because of the accurate demarcation of cancerous tissue provided by this scan, oncologists find them very useful for detecting cancer as well as determining the degree of severity and stage of advancement of cancer. This crucial information helps them arrive at a patient’s prognosis and formulate a comprehensive treatment plan to combat the deadly disease. Physicians use the scan from time to time to gauge the effectiveness of the treatment and tweak it if required.
Also Read: PET Scan- Know How Healthy Your Heart Is!
Is The Only Use For A PET Scan Cancer Diagnosis?
Not just cancer, a PET scan can also give detailed insight into other problems and conditions that afflict the human body. It is widely used for detecting and diagnosing
#Brain Disorders
Though PET is often used to check for cancer spread in the brain, it helps in diagnosing neurological conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other Central Nervous System disorders too.
#Heart Disease
PET is a non-invasive imaging procedure for identifying Coronary Artery Disease and determining the best way to treat it (whether to perform stenting, angioplasty or bypass surgery). It can also help assess damage in the aftermath of a heart attack by helping to differentiate healthy tissue from the unhealthy.
Things To Know Before A PET Scan Test At Chennai
# You cannot go for a PET scan
- If you have had an allergic reaction to either the tracer before.
- If you have been ill recently
- If you have diabetes or high insulin levels
- If you are taking medications, vitamins or herbal supplements
- If you are or you think you might be pregnant
- If you are breastfeeding, you may be asked to express and discard breast milk a few days until it is safe to resume
- If you have claustrophobia or a fear of closed spaces
#To do list before a PET Scan
- Refrain from physical activity 24 to 48 hours before the scan
- Follow a low-carb, or no-sugar diet 24 hours before the scan - meat, tofu, nuts, and non-starchy vegetables
- No chewing gum or sucking on hard candy or mints
With all this information you should be having a good picture of PET scans in general and how useful they are in treating a wide range of medical conditions.
