What is PET ?

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a camera that produces powerful images of the human body. PET is a non-invasive procedure that provides unique information about the body’s metabolism, cell function and exact location of a disease. Unlike CT and MRI scans, which study anatomy or body structure, PET looks at body function.

Because PET scans are pictures of the body’s chemistry, many diseases can be seen in their earliest stages. Research has shown that PET can effectively pinpoint the source of many of the most common cancers, and PET can give physicians important early information about cardiac and neurological diseases.

PET Facts:

• Safe
• One image shows all body organ systems
• Earlier diagnosis of disease
• Shows how the body responds to treatment
• Reduces or eliminates unnecessary surgical or medical treatments, hospitalization
• Reduces multiple medical costs, avoids needless pain to the patient

PET Benefits:

• Earlier diagnosis
• Monitoring effects of therapy
• Elimination of invasive procedures
• Replacement of multiple tests
• Pre-surgical assessment
• Identification of distant tumors
• Can tell the difference between scar tissue and tumor recurrence