PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a test that uses a special type of detector and a substance injected into the patient (radioactive tracer) to look at organs and tissues in the body. A PET scan may be ordered for a variety of medical reasons, and it is a useful tool for evaluating cancer. It can be used to locate some cancers, especially those of the breast, brain, lung, colon, or prostate. It can also help diagnose how advanced a cancer is and whether it has spread to another area of the body (metastasized). Though PET scan pictures do not show as much detail as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it may show cancer cells more clearly than a CT scan or MRI when the cells are in the early stages of development.
A PET scan utilizes a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) that is injected into a vein. The radioactive tracer gives off tiny positively charged particles (positrons), and the scanner technology is able to use the resulting radiation to make detailed computerized images of areas inside the body where the glucose is being used. Because cancer cells often use more glucose than normal cells, the pictures can be used to identify cancer cells in the body. Because the radioactivity in the glucose is very short-lived, the amount of radiation exposure is very small and not a cause for concern unless the patients is pregnant. After the injection, the patient is positioned on a scanner bed inside a large, semi-enclosed machine and must lie still for several minutes.
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In regards to individuals with mesothelioma, a PET scan is a routine part of acquiring information on the patient's condition, and recent studies indicate that it may be an accurate way to diagnose and stage the disease.