If you’re undergoing medical treatment, you may be asked to take a PET scan. On its most basic level, it is something like an x-ray. PET actually stands for Positron Emission Tomography. This is a special type of imaging that can look for problems inside the body. It can actually take a number of different measurements to give doctors the information needed to make a diagnosis. Find out more about how PET scans work.
PET scans use radioactive tracing material that is transmitted throughout the body. These tracers contain a scientific type of dye that that gets injected into the body. Usually this is done through a vein in the arm. However, it can also be inhaled through the nose or ingested as a drinking solution. The exact application for your test will depend on what the doctor suggests.
The tracers work in a special way. They group together in parts of the body that are experiencing changes in chemical activity. These chemical imbalances usually occur due to the presence of some type of disease. Therefore, the affected areas on a PET scan can alert physicians about possible problems. Doctors may also use these scans for other types of tests, such as blood pressure levels and oxygen use.
A PET MRI scan Burbank CA may be recommended in a few different situations. Usually, it is used to check for heart-related problems or cancer. However, it can also be employed to assist in diagnosing brain issues. With cancer, PET scans show an increased level of cell activity which is associated with the disease. For heart problems, they can trace a change in blood flow levels. Finally, for brain and nervous system conditions, a PET MRI scan Burbank CA determines how glucose is being used. There are actually a variety of ways this test can help.
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