What is the difference between PET-CT and PET?

They use different materials: CT scans pass x-rays through the body to create images. A PET scan uses a radioactive material which emits energy. The energy is then detected by a special camera to produce images. A PET scan is more time-consuming: A CT scan is performed in minutes.

What does a positron emission tomography show?

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of your tissues and organs. The PET scan uses a radioactive drug (tracer) to show both normal and abnormal metabolic activity.

What is the difference between PET-CT and Spect CT?

The main difference between SPECT and PET scans is the type of radiotracers used. While SPECT scans measure gamma rays, the decay of the radiotracers used with PET scans produce small particles called positrons. A positron is a particle with roughly the same mass as an electron but oppositely charged.

What is 18fdg PET-CT?

Positron emision tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-fluorine-18-fluoro-D-glucose (18FDG), an analogue of glucose, provides valuable functional information based on the increased glucose uptake and glycolysis of cancer cells.

Why is PET and CT combined?

Combined PET/CT scanners perform almost all PET scans today. These combined scans help pinpoint abnormal metabolic activity and may provide more accurate diagnoses than the two scans performed separately.

Is PET scan and PET-CT scan the same?

PET scan is a type of test that may be used in cancer treatment. It can be done along with a CT scan. If so, doctors call it a PET-CT scan. But you might also just hear it called a PET scan.

Why would a PET scan be ordered?

Your healthcare provider may order a PET scan to check for signs of: Cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer and thyroid cancer. Coronary artery disease, heart attack or other heart problems. Brain disorders, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Which is better a PET scan or a Spect scan?

For basic research, PET is the more flexible tool, because innovative tracers are more easily synthesised for PET than for SPECT. In addition, the spatial resolution of PET is better than that of SPECT – far better. This is due to the physical nature of nuclear decay of positrons.

Why is PET resolution better than SPECT?

One of the biggest pluses for PET scanning is the superiority of its image quality. For example, it tends to have fewer artifacts in images than SPECT. PET provides high spatial resolution and the capability to provide quantitative estimates of blood flow.

Why is FDG used in PET scan?

For example, in PET scans of the brain, a radioactive atom is applied to glucose (blood sugar) to create a radionuclide called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), because the brain uses glucose for its metabolism.