PET/CT Scan in Mobile, AL
Alabama Coastal Radiology, P.C.
What Is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
Positron emission tomography, also called a PET scan, is a nuclear medicine exam that produces a three-dimensional image of functional processes in the body. A PET scan uses a small amount of a radioactive drug to show differences between healthy and diseased tissue. The diagnostic images produced by PET are used to evaluate a variety of diseases.
The board-certified radiologists at Alabama Coastal Radiology, P.C. provide expert diagnostic imaging services, which includes regularly conducting PET/CT scans for many of our patients. For more information on PET scans in the Mobile area, call Alabama Coastal Radiology at your preferred location. We have radiology clinics throughout the Mobile area including in Mobile, Saraland, Daphne, Bay Minette, and Fairhope.
What Are Some Common Uses of PET Scans?
John Hopkins Medicine stated that PET scans are used to scan organs and/or tissues may be examined to determine whether illness or other problems are present. PET can also be used to assess an organ’s functionality, such as the brain or heart. The most frequent applications of PET are for the identification of cancer and the assessment of cancer therapy.
- To detect cancer
- To evaluate the heart for:
- Blood flow
- Signs of coronary artery disease
- Heart function
- To evaluate the brain for:
- Memory disorders
- Brain tumors
- Seizure disorders
How Should I Prepare for This Procedure?
PET is usually done on an outpatient basis. You should:
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Not eat for four to six hours before your scan
- Drink plenty of water
- consult with your doctor regarding the use of medications before the test
What Should I Expect During a PET Scan?
- You receive an intravenous (IV) injection of the radioactive substance. However, for some patients, you may be asked to inhale the substance.
- The radioactive substance will then take approximately 30 to 90 minutes to travel through your body and be absorbed by the tissue under study. During this time, you will be asked to rest quietly and avoid significant movement or talking, which may alter the localization of the administered substance.
- You will be positioned on the PET scanner table and be asked to lie still during your exam.
- Scanning takes 30 to 45 minutes.
- Some patients who are being evaluated for heart disease may undergo a stress test in which PET scans are obtained while they are at rest, and again after undergoing the administration of a pharmaceutical to alter the blood flow to the heart.
- Usually, there are no restrictions on daily routine after the test. You should drink plenty of fluids to flush the radioactive substance from your body.
What Will I Experience During the PET Scan?
- If given an intravenous injection, you will feel like a slight prick. However, you will not feel the substance in your body.
- You will be made as comfortable as possible on the exam table before you are positioned in the PET scanner for the test.
- You will hear buzzing or clicking sounds during the exam.
- Claustrophobic patients may feel some anxiety while positioned in the scanner.
- Some patients find it uncomfortable to hold still in one position for more than a few minutes.
PET Scans with Alabama Coastal Radiology, P.C.
For more information on PET scans, talk to a board-certified radiologist at Alabama Coastal Radiology, P.C. today by calling your preferred location. Our radiologists are all board-certified by the American Board of Radiology and many have extensive experience performing safe and accurate PET scans. We have offices throughout the Mobile area including in Mobile, Daphne, Saraland, Bay Minette, and Fairhope.
For more information on this topic, please visit www.Radiologyinfo.org.