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PET Scan Description & Explanation

Positron emission tomography or PET scan is a medical imaging procedure using radioactive materials or tracers to detect activity in a patient's organs and tissues. PET scans differ from other imaging procedures like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT) scans in that those tests only show blood flow in organs while PET scans enable doctors to see how organs and tissues are functioning.

  1. History

    • The PET scanner was first made available in 1975, according to Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD, a Brazilian biomedical researcher and professor. The early scanners produced low quality and low definition images due to the limited number of radiation sensors on the scanner. PET scanners have evolved since then so that modern ones produce clearer images of much higher quality due to improved technology and equipment.

    Uses

    • The PET scan is an important tool used for diagnostic and treatment purposes in medicine. Better Health Channel lists several potentially life-saving uses of the PET scan including the assessment and treatment of neurological and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancers.

    Preparation

    • Your physician will review your medical history, medications you are taking and allergies to medications prior to a scan. You may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking anything besides water for several hours before the scan as doing so may interfere with the results. Diabetics, pregnant and breastfeeding women will be instructed to take special precautions.

    How It Works and What to Expect

    • Before the scan, you will be injected with a tracer which will travel through your bloodstream and to your organs and tissues. You may have to wait up to an hour for your organs and tissues to absorb the tracer before starting the scan.

      Next, you will be asked to lie down on a surface and to keep still during the scan. The surface will begin to move into a tunnel-shaped hole. The scanner detects the radioactivity from the tracer and converts the activity into images.

      The length of the procedure will vary depending on what is being tested and which part of the body is being scanned; it may take from 15 minutes to two hours.

    Possible Risks

    • As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with PET scans. In general, the medical world considers PET scans to be relatively safe as the patient is exposed to low doses of radiation.

      Complications also exist for pregnant or breastfeeding women; the radiation exposure may affect the unborn baby's development in a pregnant woman. A breastfeeding woman may expose her infant to radiation through breast milk, according to RadiologyInfo's page on "Safety in Medical Imaging Procedures."

      Some patients may have allergic reactions to the tracers, but this happens rarely and is usually not concerning. Diabetics are instructed to fast prior to the scan as eating or drinking may produce false results due to the disruption in insulin and blood sugar levels. Lastly, patients who suffer from anxiety or claustrophobia may feel discomfort due to the narrow design of the PET scan machine.

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