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Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning

Like traditional nuclear medicine scans, PET scans analyze the body’s chemistry, cell function and find exact locations of disease. PET scans are part of nuclear medicine, so they work similarly to a nuclear medicine scan. Before the PET scan, a radioactive substance is injected into the body. The body metabolizes the substance and the camera detects where it goes. Since tumors metabolize the substance faster than healthy tissue, tumors are exposed where the substance accumulates to give a very precise picture of tumor shape and size. Because of this, PET scans are very good at finding metastatic cancer – cancer that has spread from its original location – and are often used in planning treatments for cancer patients.

Additionally, in people who have Alzheimer’s disease, the brain uses sugar differently. A PET scan will show the radiologist where the sugar goes and can confirm whether or not there is a presence of Alzheimer’s disease. PET scans are often combined with CT scans, MRIs or other standard imaging procedures in order to give the doctor a comprehensive look inside the body. Furthermore, because of the difference in the radioactive substance, images taken by the PET scan can be reconstructed into 3-D images whereas most traditional nuclear medicine scans cannot. The PET scanner Adventist Imaging Network uses is with Molecular Imaging of Suburban Chicago at 908 Elm Street.

To schedule a PET scan, call 630-856-7070.