The Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography is a specialized scanning device that handles nuclear medical imaging. By using a small amount of radioactive materials, nuclear medicine—a form of medical imaging—can determine the severity, diagnose and treat various diseases, including heart disease, many cancers, and endocrine, gastrointestinal and neurological disorders.
What PET CT Does
Riverhead NY patients can have a PET scan done that is safe and non-invasive. These scans are generally painless, though there are a few exceptions, such as intravenous injections and it can help your doctor find problems and diagnose them correctly.
The radioactive materials used are called radiotracers and these small materials are injected, inhaled or swallowed into the body to accumulate in a specific area that needs to be tested.
In order for your procedure to be called a PET CT scan, the same process is completed as for the PET scan and then the images are superimposed with CT (computed tomography) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) that allows special views to be shown. These views show two different exams (the PET and a CT or MRI) to be shown as one image, providing more information and better diagnoses.
In essence, the PET scan will measure your body functions, including oxygen use, blood flow and how you metabolize sugar, which will help your doctor determine how well your body uses these things. Likewise, the CT imaging uses specialized equipment to produce many inside pictures of your body that are then used by a radiologist to provide important information.
Uses
There are many reasons your doctor may ask that you get a PET CT in Riverhead, NY. It can help detect cancer, help plan and evaluate treatment plans, detect if your cancer has spread to other areas of the body, and can determine if your cancer has returned. Though mainly used for cancer diagnoses and treatments, the PET CT can also be used to check blood flow to the heart, find out heart attack effects, see if procedures can be used to strengthen the heart muscle and evaluate brain problems including tumors and seizures.
If your doctor asks for a PET CT scan, it is in your best interest to have one completed. Though you may feel nervous or scared, you can ask the doctor any questions you have, including why the test must be done and what will happen after the test.
A PET CT in Riverhead, NY can be used to detect many different problems and help decide on treatments. It can be very beneficial, so consider using North Fork Radiology. Visit Website to know more.