For diagnosing chronic ailments, there are many kinds of imaging tests to take pictures inside the body. PET CT scan is one of the most sought and highly suggested imaging methods. A whole-body PET CT Scan gives both structural and functional information regarding the body organs and tissues at both cellular and molecular levels. To perform the test, an “O” shaped machine is utilized. Nowadays, most hospitals and diagnostic centers are making use of this technology.
The PET CT scan process is commonly utilized to find cancers and diagnose brain disorders, and heart ailments. It assists physicians in analyzing the internal organs and verifying whether they are operating effectively or not. It offers a physician with entire details regarding the movement of blood and how your body is consuming sugar and oxygen. It also informs the physicians which portion of the body is recovering.
know About the Whole Body PET CT Scans
It is a very advanced technology involved in nuclear medicine. Following are some guidelines (Do’s and Don’ts) patients should be aware of prior to a PET CT scan.
- Have plain water only and take your scheduled daily medicine like diabetes medications, Blood pressure medicines prior to the scan.
- Diabetic patients can have a meal 6 hours prior to the scan.
- Inform the technologist/doctor/radiologist if pregnant.
- Inform the technologist/doctor/radiologist if breastfeeding.
- Inform the technologist/doctor/radiologist about any allergies.
- Inform the technologist/radiologist/doctor if you recently had radiation therapy.
- If you are on insulin, report to your doctor for special instructions.
Dont’s For PET CT scan
- Do not eat any food items at least 8 hours prior to the scan
- Do not do any strenuous exercise for at least 24 hours prior to the scan.
- Eliminate objects containing metallic substances such as zips, snaps, jewellery, glasses, dentures etc
Diagnosis of ailments and disease detection at an early stage at the appropriate time makes a significant difference in health management. It aids in improving the expectancy rate of life for a better life quality. PET CT Scan is highly popular today for the early detection of various chronic diseases. To collect the information radioactive glucose is introduced into the veins of the human body during a scan. It assists in collecting information about nearly all the tissues of the body. It diagnoses the abnormalities of the organs or tissues of the body and assists in the early diagnosis of diseases. According to the need of the diseases, the physician concludes, whether the patient requires only PET scan or PET CT scan. It can be applied in all branches like Oncology, Neurology, Cardiology, Infection and Inflammation imaging.
Conclusion
The diseases which can be diagnosed easily and thoroughly with the full body PET CT scan can be enumerated as cancer, heart diseases like coronary artery disease, brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, seizures, brain tumours, memory diseases and numerous other issues related to the central nervous system. It gives 3-D images and functional and cellular level information of the organs and the tissues.