17/09/2025
*Looks like Airport Security check up, what does this image represent ?*
*Answer :* 😅 Nah, it's not an airport security checkup. It's *PET/CT scans* of the head and torso.
*PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography)* scans are a powerful diagnostic tool in medicine.
They combine:
- *PET*: *Shows metabolic activity in body tissues,* helping detect areas with abnormal activity (like cancer).
- *CT*: Provides *detailed anatomical images.*
*Uses of PET/CT Scans*
- *Cancer diagnosis and staging*: Detect tumors, assess spread, and monitor treatment response.
- *Treatment planning*: Help guide radiation therapy or surgery.
- *Monitoring treatment effectiveness*: Assess if treatments are working.
*How PET/CT Scans Work*
- A small amount of *radioactive tracer is injected.*
- *The PET scan detects tracer activity in tissues.*
- *CT scans provide anatomical context* .
*PET/CT scans play a crucial role in managing cancer by:* PET scan does not definitively confirm a cancer diagnosis on its own; it *shows high metabolic activity* that can indicate cancer, but a *biopsy* is required for confirmation
- *Detecting tumors*: Identifying primary tumors and metastases.
- *Staging cancer*: Determining the extent of cancer spread.
- *Assessing treatment response*: Evaluating if tumors are responding to therapy.
- *Guiding treatment decisions*: Helping decide on surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
*Examples* in Specific Cancers
- *Lung cancer*: PET/CT helps in staging and assessing treatment response.
- *Lymphoma*: Useful for staging and monitoring treatment effectiveness.
*Risks and Limitations of PET/CT Scans*
- *Radiation exposure*: Both PET and CT components involve *radiation* , which can *increase cancer risk* over time.
- *False positives/negatives*: PET/CT can sometimes yield *false results* , leading to unnecessary procedures or delayed diagnosis.
- *Cost and accessibility*: PET/CT scans can be *expensive* and may not be widely available in all areas.
- *Contrast agents*: Some patients may experience *allergic reactions* to contrast agents used in CT scans.
*PET/CT Scans in Other Medical Conditions*
used in:
- *Neurological disorders