What is a PET/CT Scan?
A PET/CT Scan is advanced nuclear medicine imaging technique which detects abnormalities and changes in the body at the cellular and molecular level. It plays a critical role in oncology, neurology, various cardiac disorder and detection of occult infective foci in a patient with fever of unknown origin, thus allowing early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Why is the PET/CT Scan unique?
A PET/CT scan is a hybrid scanner which provides both physiological/functional and morphological/ structural information enabling your doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and select appropriate treatment. The Discovery IQ 5 ring PET CT technology at Bannu Medical Center is the latest and advanced equipment in the Warangal that provides much higher quality images at low radiation dose and lesser time of scan with more sensitive quantitative data
What is the purpose of a PET/CT Scan?
PET/CT scan has various clinical utility which includes.
(A) ONCOLOGICAL USES (CANCER)
- Cancer detection, staging & prognostication of a malignant lesion.
- Suspected relapse/recurrent or malignant lesion.
- Post-treatment evaluation- apart from early response evaluation, PET/CT differentiates tumor recurrence from non-mitotic post-treatment necrotic changes.
- In thyroid cancers with rising Serum Thyroglobulin but negative whole body iodine scan. (TENIS- Tg elevated with negative iodine scan)
- Suspicious lung lesions- Characterization of SPN (Solitary pulmonary module)-
- PET/CT guided biopsy- also known as Metabolic biopsy (for adequate biopsy site from the most active site within tumor lesion)
- CUPS – Carcinoma of unknown primary- detection of an occult primary tumor which presents as a neck mass or any bony lesion.
- CUPS – Carcinoma of unknown primary- detection of an occult primary tumor which presents as a neck mass or any bony lesion.
(B) NON ONCOLOGY USES
I) Neurology:
- Memory loss – Early evaluation and diagnosis of different types of dementia.
- EPILEPSY- Presurgical evaluation of medically refractory seizures.
- Brain tumor- Prognostication and staging of a brain tumor.
- Brain tumor- Prognostication and staging of a brain tumor.
- Encephalitis (Infective/autoimmune)-early diagnosis when an MRI/CT scan is equivocal.
- Paediatrics neurological disorder such as autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)-diagnosis and early treatment response evaluation.
II) CARDIOLOGY
- Assessment of myocardial viability in cases of IHD (Ischemic heart disease) for adequate treatment planning – Bypass surgery (CABG) vs coronary artery stenting (PTCA)
- Cardiac infection – evaluation of endocarditis post mitral valve implantation or replacement.
- Cardiac sarcoidosis.
III) INFECTION
- FUO – (Fever of unknown origin)
- Detection of the site of focal infection
IV) VASCULITIS (infection / inflammation of large arteries):
- PET /CT is the most sensitive tool for early diagnosis of suspected cases of vasculitis.
V) SARCOIDOSIS
- Assessment of metabolic activity and staging of disease.
How PET / CT scan is done?
Preparation before scan
- Overnight fasting, at least six hours. However, plain water is allowed.
- Don’t take juice, tea, coffee on the day of the scan.
- Don’t take any antidiabetic medicine in the morning on the day of scan i.e. insulin or oral tablets.
- Don’t exercise or any kind of exertion a day before the scan
- Please bring the latest Serum Creatinine blood report (a type of kidney function test if performed within last one month; no need for another one unless required)
- Kindly bring all your previous and latest investigations, reports, CT/MRI films and CD for comparison and correlation with a current scan.
During scan
- You will be injected with radioactive medicine, which is a tracer that increases the sensitivity of detection of any abnormal lesion in your body.
- The whole-body scan will take around 12 to 15 minutes after waiting for 45-60 minutes post-injection.
After scan:
- A dedicated nuclear medicine physician/ PET CT expert doctor analyses your images for its appropriateness of scan.
What are the benefits of PET/CT Scan?
A PET/CT Scan is highly effective in diagnosing a variety of cancer, brain disorders, heart ailments and infections in patients, in the following ways:
- Early diagnosis
- The procedure of the scan is fairly fast
- Allows for a precise treatment planning
What are the risks of a PET/CT Scan?
The PET/CT scan is a non-invasive and safe procedure. Except in the following cases:
- Pregnancy – increased risk of abortion or mutation.
- Breastfeeding women- scan can be done after stopping breastfeeding for a day before and post-scan.
- Allergy – very rare and that too with iodine contrast used in PET-CECT scan.
What is the cost of a PET/CT Scan?
The cost of the PET/CT Scan depends on the purpose of the procedure. A specialist must first analyze your medical history and symptoms before recommending the procedure. Make sure to consult our healthcare team for an estimated procedure and cost.
Why choose Bannu Medical Center for PET/CT Scan?
At Bannu Medical Center, we use the highly acclaimed GE Discovery IQ PET Scanner technology, which provides incredibly accurate images and increased quantitation. This allows for more precise results that are easier to analyze, without the fear of missing any small lesion. The technology is patient friendly, in view of low radiation dose and less scan time, which reflects our commitment towards providing services of the highest standard of excellence, heightening your experience and making you feel at ease throughout the procedure. The specialists at Bannu Medical Center are highly adept at analyzing the results accurately; ensuring that the best possible treatment plan can be created, based on the results.