What is PETCT , How it works, Benefits of PETCT PETCT Scan for Cancer Heart Diseases Brain Disorders FAQ HOW TO COME PREPARED FOR PETCT SCAN WHAT IS PETCT Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computerized Tomography (CT) are both standard imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of cancer within the body before making treatment recommendations. The highly sensitive PET scan detects the metabolic signal of actively growing cancer cells in the body and the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the internal anatomy that reveals the location, size and shape of abnormal cancerous growths. Alone, each imaging test has particular benefits and limitations but when the results of PET and CT scans are "fused" together, the combined image provides complete information on cancer location and metabolism. HOW PETCT WORKS While a CT scan provides anatomical detail (size and location of the tumor, mass, etc.), a PET scan provides metabolic detail (cellular activity of the tumor, mass, etc.). Combined PET/CT is more accurate than PET and CT alone! Anatomical: CT scanners send x-rays through the body, which are then measured by detectors in the CT scanner. A computer algorithm then processes those measurements to produce pictures of the body's internal structures. Metabolic: PET images begin with an injection of FDG, an analog of glucose that is tagged to the radionuclide F18. Metabolically active organs or tumors consume sugar at high rates, and as the tagged sugar starts to decay, it emits positrons. These positrons then collide with electrons, giving off gamma rays, and a computer converts the gamma rays into images. These images indicate metabolic "hot spots," often indicating rapidly growing tumors (because cancerous cells generally consume more sugar/energy than other organs or tumors). The entire examination usually takes about 20 30 minutes, providing comprehensive diagnostic information to your health care team very quickly. The PET/CT system provides exceptional image quality and accuracy of diagnostic information. BENEFITS OF PETCT : HIGH TECH – HIGH TOUCH There are tremendous benefits of having a combined PET/CT scan: 1.Earlier diagnosis 2.Accurate staging and localization 3.Precise treatment and monitoring With the high-tech images that the PET/CT scanner provides, patients are given a better chance at a good outcome and avoid unnecessary procedures. A PET/CT image also provides early detection of the recurrence of cancer, revealing tumors that might otherwise be obscured by scar tissue that results from surgery and radiation therapy, particularly in the head and neck. In the past, difficulties arose from trying to interpret the results of a CT scan done at a different time and location . The combination PET/CT provides physicians a more complete picture of what is occurring in the body - both anatomically and metabolically - at the same time. To assess tumor aggressiveness To monitor success of therapy To detect early any recurrent tumors To provide a whole-body survey for cancer that may have spread To identify benign and malignant growths To determine what heart tissue is still alive following a suspected heart attack To predict success of angioplasty (balloon) or bypass surgery To determine if coronary arteries are blocked In one single PETCT scan patient can have CT angiogram as well as metabolic information about the findings in the CT angiogram. This is a most powerful single study which can give answers to above three questions frequently encountered by Cardiologists. CT angiogram alone cannot provide these information. To diagnose Alzheimer's and other dementia To determine the location of epileptic seizures prior to surgery To diagnose movement disorders like Parkinson's disease To evaluate Brain tumors