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The Basics of PET/CT
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is a combination
of two standard tools in medical imaging diagnosis. In effect PET/CT is a hybrid
of Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan) and Computed Tomography (CT).
Positron Emission Tomography is useful in detecting a metabolic symbol of cancer
growth inside the body and Computed Tomography provides a detailed picture of
the internal anatomy of the body. This detailed anatomy can help to reveal the
following information that maybe crucial for a surgeon who maybe planning what
technique to use against a cancer:
- Location of the tumour
- Size of the tumour
- Shape of the tumour or abnormal growth
- In effect the PET/CT scanner integrates the benefits of the individual PET
and CT scans to produce a superior method of detecting cancers in their early
stages and locate them more accurately.
PET/CT as an imaging tool is the most sophisticated scanner in the world at
this moment in time. Fusing functional imaging and anatomical imaging from PET
and CT scans respectively; PET/CT facilitates early detection of metabolic abnormalities
as small as 4mm or 5mm in size.
This combination of PET and CT scans provides a new and unique dimension in
medical diagnosis.
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