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 What is
PET CT?
Clinical Indications
Cardiac applications
Neuropsychiatric applications
Patient
preparation/instructions
The
procedure
After Care
PET is a tomographic scintigraphic technique in which a
computer-generated image of local radioactive tracer distribution in
tissues is produced through the detection of annihilation photons that
are emitted when radionuclides introduced into the body decay and
release positrons.
PET is a tomographic imaging technique that uses a
radiolabeled analog of glucose, 18F-FDG, to image relative glucose use
rates in various tissues. Because glucose use is increased in many
malignancies, PET is a sensitive method for detecting, staging, and
monitoring the effects of therapy of many malignancies.
CT is a tomographic imaging technique that uses an x-ray
beam to produce anatomic images. This anatomic information is used to
detect and to help determine the location and extent of malignancies.
Combined PET/CT devices provide both the metabolic information from PET
and the anatomic information from CT in a single examination.
As shown in some clinical scenarios, the information
obtained by PET/CT appears to be more accurate in evaluating patients
with known or suspected malignancies than does the information obtained
from either PET or CT alone or the results obtained from PET and CT
separately but interpreted side by side. PET and CT are proven
diagnostic procedures.
Although techniques for registration and fusion of images
obtained from separate PET and CT scanners have been available for
several years, the readily apparent and documented advantages of having
PET and CT in a single device have resulted in the rapid dissemination
of this technology in the United States.
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Oncology
Applications
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Distinguishing benign from malignant disease
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Establishing the grade of malignancy e.g. brain,
soft tissue tumours
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Establishing the stage of disease e.g. lung
cancer, lymphoma etc.
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Establishing whether there is recurrent or
residual disease e.g. lymphoma,teratoma, seminoma, etc
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Establishing the site of disease in the face of
rising tumour markers e.g. colorectal, germ cell tumours etc.
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Establishing the response to therapy – pre,
during & post therapy.
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Identifying the primary site of a tumour for
biopsy (either when site is unknown but clinical indications are
strongly pointing to a tumour e.g. paraneoplastic syndrome) or
therapeutic purposes.
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Identifying the site to biopsy within a large
tumour
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Brain and Spinal
cord
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Suspected tumour recurrence when anatomical
imaging is difficult or equivocal and management will be
affected.
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Benign versus malignant lesions, where there is
uncertainty on anatomical imaging and a relative
contraindication to biopsy.
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Identifying the grade of brain malignancy
Investigation of the extent of tumour within the brain or spinal
cord
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Secondary tumours in the brain to identify
primary site
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Assess tumour response to therapy.
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Indicated
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Diagnosis of hibernating myocardium in patients
with poor left ventricular function prior to revascularisation
procedure.
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Patients with a fixed SPECT deficit who might
benefit from revascularisation.
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Prior to referral for cardiac transplantation.
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Diagnosis of coronary artery disease or
assessment of known coronary stenosis where other investigations
(SPECT, ECG etc.) remain equivocal.
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Differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathy (ischaemic
versus other types of dilated cardiomyopathy).
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Not indicated
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Indicated
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Presurgical evaluation of epilepsy.
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Suspected recurrence or failed primary treatment
of primary malignant brain tumours.
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Early diagnosis of dementia, (especially younger
patients)
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Differential diagnosis of dementia.
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Localisation of optimal biopsy site.
Differentiating malignancy from infection in HIV subjects
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Not indicated
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Diagnosis of dementia where MRI is clearly
abnormal.
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Most instances of stroke.
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Most psychiatric disorders other than early
dementia.
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Pre-symptomatic or at risk Huntingdons disease.
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Diagnosis of epilepsy
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Please call our hotline 16171 or (202) 3336-3310 (Mohandeseen),
(202) 2417 5556 (Heliopolis) or (202) 2528 4888 (Maadi) to speak with a
radiologist if you have any questions. It is best to call between 10
a.m. and 10 p.m., Saturday through Thursday. |
