904.202.4002
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technology that uses radioactive material to show biological processes as they occur inside the body. The technology produces images that are used by physicians to diagnose medical problems and establish what might be causing them. In this way, PET scans help doctors determine what treatment is best for a patient.
PET scans are used primarily to help diagnose problems in the nervous system, brain or heart, as well as many kinds of cancer throughout the body.
The radioactive material (called a tracer, radionuclide or radiopharmaceutical) is a chemical that’s inhaled or injected into the body through an IV and emits atomic particles called positrons. These positrons accumulate in the area being studied—an organ or tissue, typically—and are detected by a camera that records data for analysis by a computer. The computer converts all this information into an image.
What makes PET scans different from Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and other imaging technology is that PET scans can detect metabolism (the process that converts nutrients into energy) occurring in an organ or tissue. This means PET scans can sometimes show a disease process that’s occurring before other imaging technologies can detect the damage (changes in the structure of the organ or tissue) done by the disease process. In fact, PET scan images are sometimes combined with CT or MRI images to produce more detailed pictures.
Doctors might order a PET scan when they need more than a static image of damage already done to the patient’s body. PET technology lets doctors look at the metabolic process (i.e. how the cells convert oxygen and other nutrients in the blood into energy) occurring within the tissue being studied. In some situations, this provides an early glimpse of possible disease processes at work even before the damage from those processes is apparent.
Neurological conditions that might need a PET scan:
Cancer: A PET scan can sometimes detect cancer before other kinds of imaging can. It can indicate how advanced a cancer is, show if it has spread, and help a physician determine if a tumor is operable—and exactly where to operate. Cancers that might need a PET scan include:
Heart disease: Doctors rely on PET scans to help diagnose and pinpoint treatment options for heart attack, atherosclerosis and other conditions.
Learn about getting a PET scan as well as the risks and complications associated with it. If you or a loved one needs a PET scan, we would be happy to schedule it for you. Contact Baptist Neurology Group at any of our offices located throughout Jacksonville.
Unless the patient has already been admitted to the hospital, PET scans are usually done on an outpatient basis. A few basic facts:
Before the procedure: Your physician will provide detailed instructions to follow before your appointment. These will deal with fasting as well as possibly adjusting any medications (including insulin if you’re diabetic) you take routinely. Do not consume any alcohol, tobacco or caffeine for 24 hours before the procedure.
When you arrive at the site, the procedure will be explained in detail and you’ll be able to ask any questions you have. You’ll be asked to remove any jewelry and dentures and change into a hospital gown. Your clothes will be stored securely. You’ll be given a consent form to read carefully and sign. List all the medications and supplements you take regularly, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Notify your physician if:
You’ll be asked to empty your bladder. For certain PET scans, a urinary catheter may be inserted. For PET scans of the heart, electrodes will be placed on your chest area.
During the procedure: You’ll lie on the scanner table and the radioactive tracer material will be administered either through in IV or as a gas that you inhale. You may notice a flushed sensation at first but should not feel any major discomfort. If you do, notify your physician. After the tracer is absorbed (usually 30 to 60 minutes), you’ll need to lay still while the table slides into the scanning equipment. You’ll be alone in the room and will be able to communicate with technicians in the control room at all times. Sometimes there is an initial scan performed before the tracer material is administered and another scan afterward. Once you’re inside the machine, the scanner will move slowly over the area being scanned. When the process is complete, you’ll slide back out of the scanner and will be assisted off the table. If an IV line or urinary catheter were used, they will be removed.
Following the procedure: Generally there are no special precautions or procedures following a PET scan. To help your body flush away any remaining tracer material, drink lots of water and empty your bladder often for the first day or two. If you had an IV, there should not be any pain, redness or swelling at the IV site. If any of these signs develop, notify your physician promptly.
If you’ve been told you need a PET scan, we’ll be happy to arrange it for you. Contact Baptist Neurology Group at any of our offices conveniently located throughout Jacksonville.
There is not enough radioactive material in the tracer to be dangerous. In fact, PET scans expose patients to a lower dose of radioactivity than a typical x-ray. Still, there is a slight risk of discomfort or an allergic reaction to the tracer. Some patients could experience pain or anxiety from lying on the table for long periods.
There are certain factors that could interfere with the accuracy of your PET scan. These include:
It’s important to notify your physician before the procedure if any of these factors apply to you.
Learn about other diagnostic imaging procedures like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) that may be used in conjunction with a PET scan. Look into some of the different conditions we treat at Baptist Neurology Group. Contact us to schedule an appointment at any of our offices conveniently located throughout the Jacksonville area.