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Office Phone Number: (832) 644-8930
New Patient Appointments: (346) 662-1220
You probably heard of a PET/CT scan, but it can be challenging to understand what it is and how it works. “PET” stands for positron emission tomography and “CT” stands for computed tomography. A PET/CT scan allows doctors to visualize internal organs and tissue of the body. Doctors can order this scan to check different parts of your body. For example, cardiologists will order a PET/CT scan to understand how a heart attack affects the heart. These scans help to make a diagnosis and evaluate the prognosis of different conditions, making them a key tool to helping you stay on top of your health.
Learn more about how PET/CT scans work and what you can expect during your appointment.
A PET/CT scan is a combination of two different scans. The scans can be done separately, but a PET/CT scan is usually done using a machine capable of performing both scans simultaneously.
Before your PET scan, a nurse or technician injects a radioactive tracer into your body. This tracer helps doctors identify diseased tissue from healthy tissue, so they can quickly pinpoint problem areas. The radiation from this injection doesn’t stay in your body permanently and only remains for a short period while you receive your PET/CT scan.
Once in your body, the tracer will gather in areas that show signs of disease, like inflamed areas or areas with tumors. Areas of concern will appear denser on the images than healthy tissue and structures to make it easy for doctors to identify any problems.
For a CT scan, there is no requirement for a radioactive tracer. Instead, you receive an injection or consume a contrast dye so doctors can see problem areas more clearly. The dye will leave your body entirely within a day. When you get the CT scan, the machine uses x-rays to create three-dimensional images of your internal anatomy, including organs and blood vessels. This precise imaging helps doctors get a clear look at your body to make an accurate diagnosis.
A PET/CT scan creates a fusion of the two different types of images, allowing for a more in-depth view that can be used for diagnosis and treatment planning.
What is a PET/CT scan used for? This non-invasive technology has several different applications. It can help detect various cancers, brain disorders, and heart conditions, often in the very early stages. Many types of doctors order PET/CT scans, including cardiologists, oncologists and neurologists.
A PET/CT scan is a valuable screening tool to detect potential health issues before they progress to more serious and difficult-to-treat stages. This type of scan gives your doctor a lot of information, including measuring your vital functions and images of your body’s internal organs and tissues. Your cardiologist, for example, can use a PET/CT scan to determine if your arteries are constricted, affecting blood flow to your heart, and determine how much damage has been done by any previous heart attacks. Armed with this information, your healthcare team can make recommendations for treatment to help you live a healthy life.
A PET/CT scan is a non-invasive outpatient test. Your doctor will provide you with instructions and answer any questions you have about the scan. You may be asked to follow a special diet and avoid exercising for 12 to 24 hours before the scan. Once you arrive for your test, a nurse or technician will have you take the tracer and dye for your scan. You may receive both through an IV line, but you can receive the contrast dye in drinkable form instead.
Once the tracer and dye travel throughout your body, you’re ready to get your PET/CT scan.
So, how long does a PET/CT scan take? This is usually one of the first questions people ask when they know they need to schedule a scan. The exact length of the scan will depend on what images your doctor will want to see, but the entire test typically takes about one to three hours. You will lay flat on your back on a table that will slide into the scanning machine, which looks like a large circle. The technologist in charge of the scanning process may move the table into various positions during the test to capture images from different angles.
After your test, you will have a follow-up appointment with your doctor to discuss the findings and next steps.
PET/CT scans can be done on different types of equipment. During a PET/CT scan, the technician may ask you to hold your breath to ensure an accurate, clear image is taken. This request may be repeated multiple times throughout the procedure.
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