PET/CT is a device for nuclear medicine, combining the technologies of PET (Positron Emission Tomography) and Computed Tomography (CT). The device offers high-efficiency cancer diagnosis. It can also be used for the diagnosis of brain and nervous systems and the ischemic heart.

What are the benefits of PET/CT?

PET/CT is a science that can detect abnormalities of the internal organ at the molecular level. The details acquired can be used for diagnosis, especially for cancers that could not be detetced by other examination methods such as computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It can also evaluate cancer stage and recurrence, as well as disease response after cancer treatments. PET/CT offers the ability to view cancer metastasis throughout the body in one examination, support in diagnosing the cause of convulsion, as well as Alzheimer´s diagnosis.

How is PET/CT scan performed?

To perform a PET/CT scan, radiopharmaceutical agents will be injected through the patient´s vein. The radiopharmaceutical agents will gather at the lesion site. We will be able to view the abnormality or lesion through PET/CT imaging. These images will be processed by specialist doctors for further diagnosis. The radiopharmaceutical agents injected are harmless as they are low in radiation and can be released from the body via urination.

Benefits of PET/CT Scan

• Offers detailed diagnosis and stages of diseases which could not be identified by other types of scans such as computed tomography (CT) and MRI machine.
• Ability to identify the stage of cancer with precision, allowing doctors to select appropriate treatments for each patient, reduction of costs and other complications from unnecessary treatments.
• Provide a full-body view of cancer metastasis in one scan.
• Ability to detect remaining cancer and post-treatment recurrence.
• Provides an accurate diagnosis of disease stages, allowing doctors to select the most appropriate treatments for each patient.
• A safe procedure inflicts no pain on the patient.

To provide efficient treatment, the treatment type and method must align with the actual stage of the disease. Numerous researches stated that PET/CT scans provided a higher diagnostic accuracy. In terms of treatment scales, PET/CT scan helps doctors to identify whether the cancer is responding to the treatment or not. If not, doctors will be able to adjust the medication or treatment promptly. This way, both side-effects and costs from unnecessary treatments are reduced.