PET Breast Cancer Staging and Re-Staging
What is PET?
What about preparation for my exam?
What is PET?
PET is indicated for breast cancer staging and evaluation of response
to treatment.
Effective October 1, 2002, benefits for PET will be available
to Medicare participants when certain criteria are met.
PET (positron emission tomography) is a powerful diagnostic tool
that, in many cases, renders answers that no other imaging tests
can provide. This non-invasive procedure helps physicians in their
diagnosis and treatment
of certain diseases. Biochemical changes caused by certain diseases
are detected by the PET scanner after a radioactive element, bound
to a sugar-like
substance, is injected into the blood. The distribution of this “tracer” is
mapped by the scanner. Areas of abnormally high or low metabolism are seen
on the image.
PET is fundamentally different than x-ray, CT, or MRI examinations
in that PET produces this image of tissue metabolism. X-ray,
CT and MRI exams are useful in producing images of structure, or anatomy.
Metabolic abnormalities may be seen with PET prior to changes
which are
apparent
with
standard x-ray exams.
What about preparation for my exam?
This will depend on the type of study. The PET scan is a time sensitive
procedure. It is important you are on-time to your check-in.
If you must cancel or re-schedule please notify us 24 hours in advance so
that we
can cancel the radioactive compound which has been ordered
specifically for your exam.
This test involves a specific diet. Current diet instructions
for patient diet will be provided at time of scheduling.
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