How Does PET Scan Work???
A PET scanning machine
PET scan uses radiation or nuclear medicine to produce three dimensional,color images tissues of the human body.
It also integrates two types of technologies that can view your body: Computer Tomography (CT) and a radioactive material that is called a Tracer. The tracer that is used allows the doctors to observe how the body tissues absorb and use different chemicals.
It also integrates two types of technologies that can view your body: Computer Tomography (CT) and a radioactive material that is called a Tracer. The tracer that is used allows the doctors to observe how the body tissues absorb and use different chemicals.
Steps to Having a PET Scan
The following steps are done in order to preform a PET scan:
- Radiotracer- The radiotracer is inserted into the human body. Radiotracer is a medicine is a natural chemical which can be made form glucose, water or ammonia. when the radiotracer is inserted in the body it will go to into the parts of the body that use glucose energy. For example Cancer cells use glucose differently than normal tissue.
- Detecting Positrons- Then person is put under the scan to detect positrons (positively charged particles). The person has to lie under the machine about 30 to 60 minutes. As the radiotracer breaks down in the body positrons are made. The positron energy appears as 3-dimensional image on the computer screen.
- The Image- After the scan is done, The images retrieved will show the patients body function and tissues. The PET image will show different levels of positron according to the shades of the color. Image is then examined by a radiologist who reports the results to the doctors.