Contents:
- Medical Video: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan: What to expect
- What is a PET Scan?
- What are the risks of a PET Scan?
- If I am asked to undergo PET Scan, what should be prepared?
- Will I feel pain during the examination?
Medical Video: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan: What to expect
If you hear CT more often scan or MRI, then this examination is not much different from the two examinations. Then, what is the actual function of PET scan? Does this check have risks? What should I prepare if I want to do a PET scan?
What is a PET Scan?
PET scans are medical examinations that are performed to detect a particular disease in the body. PET inspection (positron emission tomography) scan helps your doctor to know what is happening to the tissues and organs in the body.
This examination uses radiation rays captured by organs in the body with the help of radioactive substances that have been injected at the beginning of the examination. Usually, PET scans are done to detect:
- Cancer
- Impaired heart function
- Brain disorders
- Nervous system disorders
Unlike CT scans and MRI, this examination is arguably more sophisticated, because it can show activity at the cellular level, so PET scans are used to see the development of chronic diseases such as:
- Coronary heart disease
- Brain tumor
- Memory disorders
- Seizures
In cancer patients, this examination makes the development of cancer cells more visible, so that the medical team you know, whether cancer cells spread or not and where the spread is.
What are the risks of a PET Scan?
PET scans use radiation to detect what is happening to the patient's body. But take it easy, the radiation dose that this device has is certainly very small and can be tolerated by the body, so it does not pose a dangerous risk.
However, this examination is still not recommended for children or mothers who are pregnant and breastfeeding. Because the radiation emitted when carrying out this examination can cause developmental disorders and little growth.
In addition, there is also the risk of allergies that may occur when this examination is done. This happens because the body is allergic to drugs that were previously injected into the body.
If I am asked to undergo PET Scan, what should be prepared?
Before you do a PET scan, there are a number of things you must do and prepare, such as:
- You are advised not to eat for about 6-8 hours before the examination is done, but during that time you are still allowed to drink.
- You are also not permitted to carry out heavy physical activity for 24 hours before a PET scan.
- If you are asked to do this examination, while you are pregnant, you should tell your doctor about your condition.
The rest, the medical team will guide you when the examination takes place.
Will I feel pain during the examination?
In fact, this examination does not cause pain, but you may feel a little uncomfortable when injected with radiotracer - a substance that makes your body capture radiation from the device.
You will be injected just before the examination, after which you are asked to lie on the device. Then, you will enter into a tool that has a 'O' hole and when your body is scanned.
This medical examination only lasts between 30-60 minutes and during that time, you are also advised to remain silent to maintain the position, so that the body scan is done quickly.
