what is a pet scan used to diagnose?

A PET scan is an advanced diagnostic examination that detects the blood, oxygen and sugar used throughout the torso. The process uses a radioactive tracer that helps the scanner find positrons in the body to diagnose or care for specific diseases. This guide will help y'all fix for your upcoming PET scan so you can hash out any concerns with your doctor.

What Does a PET Scan Entail?

Before getting a PET scan, yous will receive radioactive tracers to measure the saccharide, claret and oxygen in your body. Depending on the examined body part, you lot'll swallow, inhale or receive an injection of the tracers. The PET scanner uses these to analyze organ and tissue functionality.

Since the tracer groups together in parts with higher chemic activity, it tin can highlight specific illnesses. These will appear brighter on the PET browse than other organs and structures. Instead of a stand-alone PET scan, your medico may recommend combining a PET scan with a computed tomography scan. A PET/CT scan allows physicians to assess metabolic and anatomic information in 1 test.

What Is a PET Scan Used For?

Physicians use PET scans to diagnose medical weather and assess their patients' responses to treatment. A doc may recommend a PET scan to analyze your oxygen intake, blood flow and organ and tissue activity. With the sophisticated technology involved in a PET scan, a dr. can notice complex medical conditions on a cellular level. Physicians oftentimes prescribe PET scans to diagnose or treat the following diseases.

• Cancer: Since cancerous cells have a higher rate of metabolic action than noncancerous ones, they will appear on a PET scan in vivid spots. A doctor tin apply this diagnostic imaging test to discover whether cancer has spread or if a specific handling is effective. They tin can also determine whether cancer is recurring in a patient.
• Heart problems: A PET scan can detect healthy tissue and parts with decreased blood menstruation throughout the heart. The areas with reduced claret menstruum show up in distinct colors and effulgence levels. A dr. tin can utilize a PET scan to diagnose middle problems and develop possible treatment plans.
• Brain disorders: A PET scan involves tracers attaching to glucose and other compounds in the trunk. The diagnostic testing detects which parts of the brain apply more glucose for energy. A doctor can check for encephalon functionality and diagnose whatsoever abnormalities.

What Is the Prep for a PET Scan?

If you need a PET browse, your doctor volition give you a fix of instructions for how yous should prepare for your specific diagnostic test. During this time, information technology is helpful for your md to know what medications y'all are currently taking.

Follow these tips for preparing for your PET scan.

• Avoid strenuous activeness:Since a PET scan uses glucose, you may need to stop engaging in strenuous physical activity or exercise a few days earlier the test. Exercise raises glucose uptake in skeletal muscles and might affect your test results.
• Go on a low-carb and no-sugar nutrition: The day before your PET scan, at to the lowest degree 12 hours before your examination, your doctor will ask you to avoid foods and beverages with carbohydrates and saccharide, which both elevate glucose levels in the body. You can consume a loftier-protein diet before your process, including not-starchy vegetables, meat, nuts and tofu. Eating saccharide could skew the scan's results because a PET browse detects your sugar metabolism.
• Fast earlier the scan: If you are undergoing anesthesia for the procedure, you volition demand to avoid eating for several hours beforehand. Fasting lowers your claret saccharide levels so the tracers can work efficiently. You cannot chew gum or suck on mints, hard candy or cough drops. However, yous can drinkable h2o and take your prescribed medications.
• Wear the proper apparel: The radiology technologist may ask you to modify into a hospital gown. You will also demand to take off whatever jewelry, including body piercings, because metallic can impact the testing equipment.
• Consider your medical devices and implants: Discuss whatsoever medical devices or implants you accept. Pacemakers and bogus hips will not influence your PET-CT scan results. However, you should non have a PET-MRI if you have nonapproved medical devices or metal implants.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant: Let your doc know if you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant. The radiations from the PET scan is dangerous for your developing baby.
• Pump and store your breast milk: You lot tin can laissez passer the radiation from the PET browse to your nursing baby. If you lot are breastfeeding, you will need to pump and shop your milk the day before the procedure. You lot shouldn't breastfeed for 24 hours later on the test.
• Talk to your doctor nigh your diabetes: Your doctor will give you specific preparation directions if you have diabetes. Fasting before your test could touch on your blood sugar levels. Y'all can probably take your insulin as usual and have a small meal a few hours earlier your PET scan.

Is a PET Scan Safe?

A PET scan is condom and painless. Even though the procedure uses radioactive tracers, the exposure is minimal. Since the tracer contains glucose with a small amount of radioactive fabric, your body tin quickly process and eliminate information technology. You tin can speak with your medico if yous have any concerns you may accept. Remember, this exam'due south diagnostic benefits far outweigh whatever risks.

It is helpful to consider the possible side furnishings if y'all have some medical conditions.

• Allergies: You may accept an allergic reaction to the tracer, especially if you are allergic to saccharin, iodine or aspartame. The medico may prescribe you something different instead.
• Pregnancy: You should non become a PET scan if y'all are pregnant or retrieve you might be pregnant. The radiation involved in the process is unsafe for a growing fetus.
• Claustrophobia or fearfulness of needles: The test may be uncomfortable for you if you are afraid of enclosed spaces or needles. Discuss your options with your doctor to make your process more pleasant for you.

Yous may also have swelling, bleeding or bruising from the injection.

Schedule Your PET Browse With Impression Imaging

You lot can complete your prescribed PET scan at Impression Imaging in South Florida. Our specialized squad of radiologists strives to give you the highest-quality care during your process. Request an appointment online or call (954) 580-2780 for more information.

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Source: https://impressionimaging.com/what-is-a-pet-scan/

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