PET scans use a radioactive substance to locate cancer cells in the body, allowing doctors to determine the extent of the cancer and make treatment decisions. The procedure is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and can also be used to diagnose neurological conditions and heart disease. False positives are possible, so PET scanning is only part of the diagnostic process.
Using a PET scan to diagnose cancer is a relatively common procedure. A PET scan is a form of imaging test similar to an MRI or CT scan. Also known as positron emission tomography, PET scanning uses a radioactive substance to pinpoint the exact location of cancer cells. Neither a CT scan nor an MRI scan is used to diagnose active tumors.
Using a PET scan to diagnose cancer is a multi-step process. The person receiving the PET scan must take a small amount of radioactive material. This can be in the form of an intravenous injection, or be inhaled or taken orally. The amount of radioactive material is very small and is not a problem for most individuals. A PET scan for cancer diagnosis is typically not recommended for women who are breastfeeding or pregnant.
Once inside the body, radioactive material is attracted to and will accumulate around an area that has a large amount of cellular activity. Many types of cancer cells have this characteristic, particularly cancers of the brain, breast, oesophagus, cervix, colon, thyroid, lung and pancreas, as well as lymphoma and melanoma. The patient then enters the PET scanner, which captures images of the targeted area.
Your doctor will look at the PET scan images to determine if cancer cells are present and how widespread they are. Doctors will often do a follow-up PET scan on people undergoing cancer treatment. These PET scans allow the doctor to determine how well the patient’s cancer is responding to treatment. After cancer treatment is complete, the health care provider may request that the patient have periodic PET scans to determine if the cancer has come back.
The main benefit of using a PET scan for cancer diagnosis is that it allows the patient to receive an early diagnosis of cancer, when the cancer is more easily treated. It also allows you to scan your entire body for cancerous cells. This allows the oncologist to determine the extent of the cancer and to make the best possible cancer treatment decisions.
PET scans are used extensively in cancer diagnosis, but they have other uses as well. They help diagnose neurological conditions and heart disease. Regardless of why PET scanning is used, it is possible to receive a false positive from the test. Radioactive material is attracted to any area with a high level of cellular activity, so less serious conditions may show up as bright spots on the scan. PET scanning is only part of the strategy doctors use to diagnose cancer and other diseases.
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