Guide To Positron Emission Tomography Scans (PET Scans)

Types Of PET Scans

Many individuals will receive a standard positron emission tomography scan. Of course, the precise part of the patient's body that doctors want to examine may change. However, there are different types of PET scans that are often considered to have special significance. One of these scans is the cardiac positron emission tomography scan, which is also referred to as a SPECT scan. It is a cardiac molecular imaging scan. In this type, the doctor will inject patients with a radioactive tracer that will circulate to their heart. Then, the patient will receive a scan of their heart. This scan detects the tracer's signal. The result is a three-dimensional image.

Many positron emission tomography scans use an injection of fludeoxyglucose (FDG) as the radioactive tracer. This injection is of particular prominence in PET f-18 FDG scans. This scan involves a glucose scan immediately following the positron emission tomography scan. The reason that this is done, according to reports, is to determine whether or not there is permanent heart muscle damage. In addition to these types, it is worth noting that there is also a PET/CT scan. This scan combines a positron emission tomography scan with a computerized tomography scan. Doctors use this more a more accurate diagnosis.