Examinations with this equipment are helping doctors to make more precise determinations about the effective treatment of cancer and certain heart problems. The results of an examination show the effect of current treatment and permit the adjustment of treatments to meet the current status of the disease process. This is known as the staging and restaging of treatments.

PET/CT equipment is somewhat deeper from front to back in order to accommodate two types of scanning components in one housing. The Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner detects faint emissions produced by radioactive "tracer" isotopes in glucose as it is metabolized by the body (see more on this below). These emissions are detected by sensors in the machine and plotted in the system computer to form an image.

The CT scanner inside is essentially the same as other high-resolution CT machines. It takes a large number of X-ray pictures from many angles and assembles them in the same system computer where they are merged into a single picture with important details on structures of interest to your doctor.

The more doctors know about what's going on inside, the better they are able to manage treatments. The specific advantage of merging two types of images is the ability to see cellular activity and very precise location of that activity in one picture.

This machine provides a very accurate picture of what's going on inside. Merged pictures can be compared to a radar weather map of the United States that shows weather fronts and storms over outlines of each state. This type of map allows the viewer the see the exact location of a storm as shown below.

State Outline Map XRadar Map without Lines State Outline and Weather

CT Scan Shows Structures PET Scan Merged PET and CT Scan

The bright spots (above right) show hot spots where cells are more actively involved in metabolizing glucose.

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A PET/CT visit normally lasts about one-and-a-half hours. After you check in at our reception desk, you will be accompanied to a changing room where you will put on an examination gown. The next step involves an injection of the special radioactive isotope and glucose. It is a very low dose that passes out of your body within a day. The injected compound moves through the blood stream to cells engaged in metabolizing glucose. Cancer cells and certain other cells are more active in metabolizing glucose than muscles at rest. As a result, the radioactive isotope acts as a space marker for these cells in the PET scanner. Once scanned, the system computer creates a metabolic map of the body and produces an image like the center image above. We need to allow about 30 minutes for the injection to go to work. During this time, we provide a comfortable lounge chair in a semi-private waiting room. It's a place to sit quietly, relax, and wait for your PET/CT scan to begin.

After your rest, you will be shown to the examination suite where you will recline on a couch and take a deeper rest while the PET/CT machine does its important work.

When the scan is complete, you will be shown back to the changing room where you can dress and be on your way. We will examine your pictures carefully and send them to your doctor's office electronically with our detailed report of findings. You will learn about the results during your next appointment with your doctor.

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