In today’s fast-changing landscape of medical diagnoses, PET-CT scans have demonstrated a dramatic ability to change lives. A PET ct scan can reveal not only the structure of the body but also what the cells of the body are doing. This means that patients receive earlier and more accurate diagnoses, along with highly personalized treatment plans that were once unimaginable. PET-CT combines the best features of two imaging techniques, allowing for detailed and thorough evaluations of not just cancer, but other important medical conditions, such as neurological disease’s such as Alzheimer’s. The real importance that PET-CT holds lies within the stories of individuals who received a life-saving diagnosis just in time, or for those whose treatment could be calibrated to pertain more precisely because of a scan. In this article, we will discuss in detail about PET CT scans and how they are changing the lives of patients.
What is a PET CT scan?
A PET CT scan is an advanced form of medical imaging that employs a combination of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) scan. This test allows doctors to not only visualize the anatomical structures of the internal organs they are interested in, but also to visualize the behavioural, functional structures, which can provide a more detailed and accurate picture of how the organ is working. A pet ct scan in Chandigarh is done with a radioactive tracer that is preferentially absorbed by the cells that are “active or working,” such as cancer cells. These problematic cells come back in the results as dark red. This means that the test, combined with a CT scan, provides important information about the location, activity extent, and severity of the tumour if present. This test can also be done to help doctors figure out how the body is responding to treatment by monitoring the disease progression.
What is the process for a PET scan?
As discussed above, a PET CT scan near me is a type of Nuclear Medicine Imaging. It utilizes very small amounts of radioactive drugs, which are injected into the patient through an IV. This radioactive drug is called a radiotracer. A PET ct scan near me focuses heavily on molecular activity and other processes, which allow it to detect many different types of problems at their earliest stage. Cancerous or infected cells of the patient’s body take up excess radioactive drugs compared to healthy cells. PET scanners can track them and develop a picture of them. Generally, the picture is combined with X-ray images of the CT scan or the PET/CT scan. The radiotracer is injected into the patient through the IV. Then the patient sits in a chair for around one hour so that the radiotracer moves around the body and becomes absorbed into the tissues. If the patient is receiving a PET/CT scan, a contrast dye is injected into them, which helps produce better quality X-ray Images. Once this is completed, the patient will be positioned to lie on the examination table of the PET/CT scanner, and the test will commence.
Other areas where a PET scan can be useful:
People generally mistake PET CT scans to be useful only for the detection of cancer; however, this is not true. Apart from cancer, PET CT scans can be instrumental to detect a wide range of other ailments including;
- Cardiac Disease: A PET scan in Chandigarh shows the doctors whether or not patients suffer from coronary artery disease. It can show myocardial viability and damage in a patient after a myocardial infarction (heart attack). A PET CT scan will also be helpful in identifying the areas of the heart where angioplasty or bypass graft surgery might be considered.
- Neurological Disease: A PET-CT can help identify brain tumors and dementia, and also classify rates of brain metabolism and identify anatomical areas of abnormal brain function in diseases such as epilepsy.
- Other Areas: PET scans are not limited to the above areas and contexts. There are many other areas that can be considered as diagnostic tools, including inflammatory conditions, metabolism, tissue viability, and identifying specific sites of infection.
If you are looking for the best PET scan hospital near me or the best PET ct scan in chandigarh, Sohana Hospital might just be the right option for you. Sohana Hospital Mohali is home to the world’s most advanced technology and North India’s most trusted oncologists and nuclear medicine specialists who provide the most comprehensive cancer care and PET-CT scan facilities to the patients in the region. Book your appointment today and take the first step towards a healthier, hopeful life!