What is a PET/CT scan?
PET stands for Position Emission Tomography. It is a test that detects changes in the body on a cellular level. Since cellular changes take place before physical ones do, PET can help your doctor make an earlier diagnosis or determine if your current treatment is working effectively. CT stands for Computerized Tomography. It is an x-ray test that creates a detailed view of the physical structure of your organs and tissue. The CT scan can show the dimensions of your vessels, lymph nodes and organ systems. A PET/CT scan combines both technologies into one machine. It provides: • A picture of cellular function (PET) • A picture of physical structure (CT) • A merged picture of the body’s cellular function and physical structure — back to top — What can I expect during my PET/CT exam? Before the scan, you will be injected with a radioactive tracer. The tracer is a compound similar to sugar. You will be asked to rest for 60 minutes while the tracer is distributed though your body. The techno
