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Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
A More Complete Picture
What is PET?
Positron Emission Tomography
A relatively new medical imaging test that holds great promise in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, particularly cancer
Injectable radioactive pharmaceuticals (FDG) are used to image physiologic/biologic processes
- PET has been around for 25 years
- It has become a clinical reality because:
- Reimbursement has been clarified
- Technology is simplified
- FDG is more readily available
- Cost of equipment has decreased
- Cost-effectiveness data is available
What is FDG?
- Short for Fluoro-Deoxy-Glucose
- A “radioactive sugar”
- It is injected into a vein in the patient
- More actively growing cells (like malignant tumor cells) use more sugar
- Accumulated FDG shows up as “hot spots” on a PET image
Why PET?
- PET provides physicians with information about the body‘s chemistry, cell function, and location of disease
- PET eliminates the need for unnecessary surgeries or treatments
- PET significantly reduces medical costs
How is PET different?
- X-Ray/CT/MRI image anatomy (Is something there? How big is it? How many are there?)
- PET images biological/metabolic processes (Is the mass metabolically active?)
- PET often diagnoses illnesses earlier than conventional diagnostic procedures because PET shows how the body is functioning
How is PET used?
For Diagnosis and Staging of Diseases in:
- Oncology (Cancer)
- Neurology (Brain)
- Cardiology (Heart)
Neurology
PET is used in neurology to:
- Localize seizure focus in patients with seizure disorders
- Differentiate Alzheimer’s disease from multi-infarct dementia or depression
- Analyze Parkinson’s disease
- Evaluate extent of stroke and recovery following therapy
Cardiology
PET is used in cardiology to:
- Detect presence of coronary artery disease
- Assess the extent of damage from heart disease (is the patient a bypass candidate?)
- Determine which patients will benefit from cardiac transplantation
Lymphoma Case Study
History
A 29-year-old man with a history of lymphoma.
Initial PET Results
The initial PET study showed extensive tumors in the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis. The patient was scheduled for a stem cell transplantation to treat his extensive disease.
Follow-up PET Results
The follow up whole-body FDG PET scan after the stem cell transplantation shows absence of the tumors indicating a favorable response to the stem cell transplantation.
Change in Treatment
The complete response to the stem cell transplantation is documented by PET. Without PET the patient likely would be subjected to additional courses of therapy.
Imaging: Siemens ECAT EXACT, 10 mCi FDG pre-therapy, 10.2 mCi FDG post-therapy, 6 bed positions Courtesy of North Texas Clinical P.E.T. Institute, Dallas, Texas
What does a PET scan involve?
- Fast for 4 hours prior to the test
- Have an IV inserted to inject the FDG
- Wait 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Lie still for the duration of the test (30-75 minutes depending on the type of test)
- The procedure is completely painless with no side effects
Why PET?
- PET is more accurate than most conventional imaging tests
- PET can replace many tests with a single examination
- PET images the entire body in a single examination
PET Scans will be available via a mobile unit located at the Benesse Oncology Center every first and third Monday of each month. Ask your physician if you are a candidate for a PET Scan.
Contact Mona Bernard or Linda Skillman for more information.
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