PET brain scans are informative when it comes to brain functionality but there are limitations as well. The benefits are they can indicate some subtle value of change in both the brain’s activity and metabolism levels that may enhance the diagnosis of underlying neurological conditions like the downsides are radiation exposure, allergic reactions to the radiotracer, and can not indicate the fine detail of identifying anatomical structures like other imaging.
The Advantages of a Brain PET Scan
Although radioactive tracers are used for imaging, the amount is very low, with respect to the ability to affect the normal functions of the human body.
Radiation is considered to be unsafe with respect to fetuses, and therefore pregnant women, women suspect they are pregnant and nursing mothers are not encouraged to have.
Some other hazards could be uncomfortableness, if you have a need to be able to see around you and are claustrophobic, or you have anxiety from needles.
Benefits of PET Brain Scans?
Shows Metabolic Activity: Whereas CT and MRI show anatomical structure, PET brain images show areas of greater or lesser glucose (sugar) metabolism in the brain tissues. This is significant when evaluating the functional activity of various parts of the brain.
The ability of PET scans to evaluate changes in cellular metabolic activity, before there are changes in anatomical structure, allows for early identification and intervention of disease, including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Enhanced Diagnostic Performance
Discriminative Diagnosis: PET is helpful in diagnosing with particular differentiation between conditions with similar features different forms of dementia or
Alzheimer’s or in a differential diagnosis of certain movement disorders.
Cancer Staging: In oncology, PET scans determine the cancerous nature of brain lesions, give a location of metastases, and inform treatment.
Surgical Planning: PET can help to identify brain areas responsible for seizures in epilepsy for instance when conducting a pre-surgical assessment.
Disadvantages of PET Brain Scanning
Use of radioactive tracers: PET scans include an injection of a radioactive agent, resulting in exposure somewhat over a CT scan. Although the exposure is generally not a concern, the cumulative exposure to radiation might be a concern for certain situations, especially mid and long-term cancer patients, children, pregnant women, and patients who require PET scans annually or with greater frequency.
Pregnant women: PET scanning is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women unless medically very best or avert physical damage.
What are the risks of having a brain PET scan?
It is low enough that there is no effect on normal bodily processes. The risks of the test are low in comparison to the benefits of the data collected.
Radiation is thought to be unsafe for fetuses, and women who are pregnant, who think that they are pregnant, or are nursing should not have a brain PET scan, or any other type of PET scan.
Conclusion
Though there are unique advantages in using the brain PET scan for depicting brain function, one must take a cautious approach with respect to the risks of proper use, namely radiation exposure and possibly presenting false results. Physicians will be taking detailed medical histories to assess the appropriateness of the brain PET scan for each patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the benefits of a PET scan of the brain?
This test can be used to diagnose the brain tumor or monitor treatment effect on a brain tumor.
Q. What are the disadvantages of a PET scan of the brain?
While brain PET scans have significant utility, they have many pitfalls including radiation exposure, allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer, false positive or negative results, a patient’s ability to keep still during the procedure, costs, and if it can be done where you are.
Q. Who benefits from a PET scan?
PET Scan: Purpose, Procedure, and Potential Adverse Effects
PET scans can be used for many purposes in disease diagnosis and monitoring, cancer, heart disease, and other neurological disorders; to determine if cancer is present,
Q. What Is A Full Form Of PET
PET stands for “Positron Emission Tomography”.
Q. Where to get the best PET scan in Delhi?
If you’re looking for the PET scan you can just google search or directly contact carebox, a best diagnostic service provider.
