PET-CT/PET PET is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedure that assesses the level of metabolic activity and perfusion in various organ systems of the human body. A positron camera (tomograph) is used to produce cross-sectional tomographic images which are obtained from positron emitting radioactive tracer substances such as FDG ({fluorine -18} -fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose) that usually are administered intravenously to the patient. Why PET? Images and measures metabolic processes Validates and/or alters patient management and care Reduces patient risk and improves patient outcome Decreases overall healthcare costs Defines appropriate pathways PET imaging provides physicians with information about the body's chemistry, cell function and exact location of disease. The precise images obtained with PET — actual images of what the tissues look like — are not available with other technologies, such as CT, MRI or X-ray. The difference lies in the ability of PET to study body function rather than giving radiological images of anatomy or body structure. For oncology patients, PET is used to determine the exact location and stage of cancerous tissue which can prevent unnecessary surgery and biopsies and inappropriate treatments. PET scanning has a major impact on clinical evaluations of cancer patients and, in many cases, enables physicians to begin treatment earlier and increase the odds for successful patient outcomes. PET Applications Oncology: Whole-body scan for distant metastases Differentiating malignant and benign tissue Early detection of recurrent tumors Tumor grading Therapy selection and evaluations PET has shown a high degree of accuracy for determining the presence or spread of many malignant tumors in patients with: Lung cancer Ovarian cancer Breast cancer Lymphomas Head and neck tumors Colorectal cancer Melanoma Brain tumors Pancreatic cancer Cardiology Myocardial Infarction: determination of tissue viability, prediction of therapeutic success (bypass, angioplasty) Perfusion: detection of coronary artery disease Neurology Dementia: differentiation of dementia, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s chorea Epilepsy: detection of foci, support of surgery Parkinson: diagnosis of movement disorders