Spotlight On Our PET/CT Program
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Our PET/CT program is just one of the many tools Leever uses in our fight against cancer. We talked with HLRCC PET/CT Lead Tech Christina Kidulas for more information on how PET/CT scans work and what patients can expect.
What is a PET/CT scan?
A PET/CT scan generates images of organs, bones, and body tissues to evaluate function, identify changes, and diagnose cancer at its earliest stages.
The PET scan shows the metabolic function of the body, while the CT scan provides information about the body’s anatomy, such as size, shape and location. By combining these technologies, doctors can more accurately diagnose and identify cancer versus other disorders, determine the extent of disease, prescribe treatment and track progress.
What should patients expect during a PET/CT?
We ask patients to fast six hours before their scan with only clear water to drink. At their appointment they will have their blood sugar checked and then will be given an IV injection of a radioactive isotope. While the isotope has time to circulate, we ask patients to relax in a comfortable recliner in a dimly lit room, surrounded by soft music. Some people worry that the machine is loud or claustrophobic, but it’s not. The patient lies on a table that passes in and out of an open cylinder-shaped scanner. The entire process lasts about an hour and a half.
Are there risks with the radiation?
The risks are small. Naturally occurring background radiation and activities like watching TV and flying in an airplane all contribute to a lifetime exposure that is only slightly increased by medical imaging.
The amount of radiation used in PET/CT scans is low, and the radiopharmaceutical decays quickly and is undetectable within 24 hours.
What’s unique about Leever’s PET/CT scan?
At Leever, we can run several different tests with the PET/CT scanner using various kinds of radioactive tracers. FDG PETs, for example, looks at the metabolic function of cells. This kind of scan can differentiate scar tissue from cancer cells and prevents many unnecessary biopsies from being performed. We also can do bone scans, a highly sensitive test using a sodium fluoride tracer that only adheres to bones.
We are proud to be among the few centers to use our scanner as part of the national IDEAS research study. The study images amyloid plaque in the brain to study how an overabundance of the plaque contributes to certain dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease. We also receive referrals from neurologists to scan people between 40 and 60 who experience amnesia and forgetfulness to get a baseline of the brain’s activity and help them determine which parts are working at optimal levels.
To find out more about PET/CT program at HLRCC, call us at (203) 575-5501, or visit our PET/CT Scan Services page.