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PET/CT and Lung Cancer
Diagnosis and treatment
PET/CT is an effective procedure used in the diagnosis and treatment of lung
cancer in the various medical stages of treatment. PET scans from the PET/CT
scanner are one of the most effective imaging tools in diagnosing lung cancer.
Although CT anatomical images are useful in detecting the size and location
of a lung mass that can be indicative of a cancerous tumor, a lung cancer PET
scan will be able to detect whether or not this abnormality is benign (alive
tissue and non-cancerous) or malignant (dead tissue and cancerous).
PET imaging is able to detect cancerous cells, as it is a metabolic imaging
tool. With PET scans, the chemical function of the lung and other targeted organs
or tissues are examined. PET images are able to visualize biochemical changes
caused by disease.
Combining the anatomical location from the CT scan with the biochemical changes
of the PET scan can provide an excellent tool in detecting cancerous masses
on the lung.
A PET scan can also provide the same information that a biopsy would, but via
a non-invasive method, saving time, money and energy on both the patient’s and
surgeon’s behalves.
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