PET/CT Scan
PET (positron emission tomography) scans provide specific information about organ and cell functioning by distinguishing among healthy, diseased and dead tissue; CT scans provide a detailed picture of the body's internal anatomy. PET/CT scanning technology combines the physiological information from a PET scan and the anatomical information from a CT scan to provide an image of the body in a single scan.
PET/CT imaging is primarily used to diagnose cancer and evaluate treatment by providing:
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Information about cellular activity to help doctors distinguish between benign and malignant tumors.
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A single, full-body scan that reveals where cancer exists.
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Evidence of cellular changes - which can be seen much earlier than structural changes - to allow doctors to evaluate treatments earlier and make necessary modifications.
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More accurate information to detect recurrence. PET/CT scans can provide clear images of tumors that are often obscured by scar tissue (from surgery or radiation) when using other imaging techniques.