PET FAQ
First, a patient is injected with a radionuclide glucose marker (FDG) and allowed to rest so the patient's body can uptake the radionuclide. The patient then goes into the PET scanner, and the PET scanner detector arrays record the gamma ray signals emitting from the patient. Cancerous cells have a higher metabolic rate than normal cells, so they uptake more of the radionuclide. The PET scanner displays the accumulation, pinpointing denser areas, which are then interpreted by a nuclear medicine physician. PET scans are also useful in diagnosing certain cardiovascular and neurological diseases by highlighting areas with increased, decreased or diminished metabolic activity, indicating problems.
Due to the sensitivity of PET, and the fact that it checks metabolic activity versus structure, can often see signs of disease before other imaging techniques may visualize a problem. It can be used to determine the presence and severity of cancer, neurological conditions or cardiovascular disease. It can also monitor cancer treatment efficacy and recurrences. A CT scan allows the visualization of body structures. A PET/CT scanner combines these scans, for a more accurate reading and placement of potential disease.
Any medical physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of California can order this exam. Insurance may not pay in certain instances.
The amount of radiation from the injected radionuclide is low and decays rapidly. It is equivalent to a chest CT scan.
PET measures cell metabolism while MRI and CT visualize structures. It can be better suited than these modalities in determining benign and malignant lesions, and in differentiating malignant from non-malignant masses such as scar tissue versus malignancy. PET is often combined, or fused, with CT or MRI images to optimize the strengths of both scans. We have a new, "open" PET/CT scanner that combines both of the exams.
Why Choose the S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center for PET?
The S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center provides a full range of advanced imaging, both radiology and cardiology, as well as interventional radiology and interventional tumor (oncology) treatments to the greater Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Encino, Mid-Cities, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, Studio City, Toluca Lake, and West Hollywood.