Positron emission tomography (PET) is an imaging scan that shows activity within your body's tissues.
Board-certified radiologists at Magee-Womens Imaging perform PET scans on many body parts, including your:
PET scans help radiologists:
PET scans rely on a substance, injected prior to the scan, that gives off a tiny amount of radiation. This substance goes to the part of your body that is most active and releases tiny particles, called positrons. A camera records the positrons and transfers the information to a computer to produce an image. Your radiologist can then detect the substance and, from that, check your blood flow and make sure your organs are working properly.
Your doctor or nurse will discuss with you what medications you should or should not take prior to having a PET scan. To ensure an accurate reading, we ask that you do not:
On the day of your PET scan, a technologist will give you a radioactive substance either by an injection or inhalation. You will be asked to rest in a quiet room to allow for total uptake of the isotope. On average, it will take:
When it's time for your PET scan, your Magee technologist will:
Your Magee radiologist will interpret your PET images and collaborate with your doctor to determine an accurate diagnosis and develop an individualized treatment plan that best suits your needs.
