The Pros And Cons Of A PET Scan

Imagine being able to detect diseases in your body, or being able to examine various tissues and determine its conditions. That is exactly what an positron emission tomography (PET) scan is used for. Unlike CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, the PET scan can reveal the cellular level changes occurring in an organ or tissue.
To obtain this information, a very small dose of a radioactive chemical, called a radiotracer, is injected into the vein of the patient’s arm. The tracer then travels through the body and is absorbed by the concerned organs and tissues. The machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer substance and, with help from a computer, this energy is converted into three-dimensional pictures. A doctor can then look at images of the body’s organ from any angle in order to detect any functional problems.
PET scans can measure anything from vital functions in blood flow, to oxygen use, and glucose
According to Radiology Info, because of the doses of radiotracer administered are small, there are potential risks to radiation damage; however, since it is a very small amount, there is a high chance that there would not be any damage. Allergic reactions to radiopharmaceuticals may occur but are extremely rare and are usually mild. You should inform the nuclear medicine (because of the radiotracer) personnel of any allergies you may have or other problems that may have occurred during a previous nuclear medicine exam. Injection of the radiotracer may also cause slight pain and redness, like any other injection or shot, should rapidly resolve. Women should always inform their physician or radiology technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant or if they are breastfeeding; just like having any other scan (MRI, CT, X-ray, etc.), it may be harmful to the