Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging or a PET scan, is a diagnostic examination that involves getting photographs of the physique based mostly on the detection of radiation from the emission of positrons. Positrons are tiny particles emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the affected person.
Your scan results is not going to be out there immediately. Before you leave, the nuclear drugs scientist will let you know when your physician will have the outcomes. You might want to make a comply with-up appointment with your physician to discuss the outcomes of your PET scan. Your last meal earlier than the scan should embody high protein foods and plenty of water. Avoid carbohydrates and foods with sugar. Because PET scans learn your sugar metabolism, consuming sugar might affect the outcomes of your scan.
Cancerous tumours are normally extra energetic, have the next metabolic charge than normal tissue, and appear in another way on a PET scan. PET imaging has also been used to evaluate folks with different neurological diseases, together with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, because the pictures can show areas of the brain which might be functioning differently to normal. This pure chemical may very well be glucose, water, or ammonia. The tagged pure chemical is called a radiotracer The radiotracer is then injected into the human physique.
A PET scan is normally completed as an outpatient procedure in the nuclear medication department of a hospital or specialised PET scan centre. The check takes forty five minutes to 2 hours depending on whether a single organ or the entire physique is scanned. Your appointment will most likely last about an hour. The scan only takes about half-hour. If the machine scans a big a part of your body, the check might take longer. The technologist can let you know about how lengthy it is going to take. Contact your insurance coverage firm to learn in the event that they pay for the scan. Also, ask how much of the associated fee you’ll need to pay.