Why Would My Doctor Order a PET/CT Scan?

Posted by petctlascolinas on September 23rd, 2014

Medical science isn’t always exact and just because patients present with symptoms common with a particular condition doesn’t mean they have it. That’s why doctors tend to run a multitude of tests to help them rule out and narrow down the potential causes of symptoms.

If your doctor has ordered a PET/CT scan, chances are you are wondering just what he or she is looking for. This highly sophisticated nuclear medicine test is used to diagnose and guide treatments in a number of highly different diseases. When the use of this special X-ray equipment is called for, a doctor may be looking to evaluate the brain for such conditions as:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• The presence of brain tumors
• Lesions that might be indicative of seizure disorders

It is also possible your doctor is looking for input to help:

• Detect the presence of cancer
• Prepare cancer treatments going forward
• Evaluate the performance of the body’s organs and functions, including blood flow, oxygen use, and sugar metabolism

Why This Test?

Positron emission tomography enables physicians to gain keen insights into how the body is performing and what might be going on inside. By using a trace amount of radioactive material that is injected into the veins, this test enables doctors to see the differences between healthy and diseased tissue. This can result in providing doctors with the ability to pinpoint problem areas and arrive at a highly accurate diagnosis more quickly. The end result can be a more precise diagnosis and immediate treatment options. When conditions such as cancer are suspected, a PET/CT scan can prove crucial in speeding up the time between diagnosis and treatment, which is often critical for saving lives.

Keep in mind that just because a doctor has recommended a PET/CT scan doesn’t mean a dreaded disease is present. Your doctor is exercising due diligence by using this tool to rule out potential problems that might demand immediate attention first.

If you’re not sure why your doctor has recommended this test, be sure to ask directly. Also be certain to gain pre-test instructions and follow them to the letter. PET/CT scans are powerful tools that aid in diagnosis, but they do call for a little prep to perform properly.

About Author
PET / CT of Las Colinas was developed with both patients and physicians in mind and our services have been used for various types of disease; primarily in detecting, staging and monitoring cancer, but also in heart disease and brain disorders.