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What Do Pet Scans Observe?

The term PET scan uses an acronym for the medical phrase positron emission tomography scan. A PET scan is occasionally referred to as a nuclear medicine scan. The imaging test that is performed during a PET scan looks for diseases in the patient's body by noting how the organs and tissues are working. A radioactive substance must be administered for the PET scan to read properly.

  1. Preparation

    • A radioactive material is first injected into the patient's vein so the scan can be observed. This is typically done on the inside of the elbow. The substance requires about an hour to absorb properly into the body, and then the test can begin. The patient lies on a table that will eventually slide into the hole in the middle of the PET scanner. Although the radioactive substance can cause a warming feeling, and the injection may be compared to a small pinch, the actual PET scan cannot be felt.

    Detection

    • The test observes energy created by the injected radioactive substance and transforms it into a three-dimensional picture. These images are transferred to a computer for a health care provider to assess. The health care provider will determine if the PET scans indicates any form of disease, malignancies or abnormalities in the organs.

    Purpose

    • A PET scan is used to detect numerous complications in the body, including issues with the function of the brain, cancer diagnosis, heart problems and blood flow to the heart, according to Medline. The PET scan does this by detecting the position, size and shape of organs. Some functions of the organs can be determined as well.

    Abnormal Results

    • Abnormal results on a PET scan can indicate numerous conditions, including abnormal heart functions, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, growths or infections. Other things can be determined from an abnormal PET scan reading, including changes in organ function or an abnormally sized, positioned or shaped organ.

    Misconceptions

    • PET scans are often confused with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography scans (CT) scans. The purpose of an MRI or CT scan is to determine blood flow to and from the organs. The distinct difference is that a PET scan will actually show how the organs and tissues are working at the time the test is done.

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