When Should You Get a PET CT Scan? Indications You Shouldn't Ignore

 



With the advancements in modern medicine and technology, pet CT scan in Chandigarh have emerged as the game-changers, offering the most advanced diagnostic techniques, highly effective for the detection, staging, and monitoring of various health conditions of the patients. But with such advanced techniques, patients might often wonder whether they need such tests or not. The answer to this question lies in recognizing certain symptoms, risk factors, and other signs that must not be overlooked by the patients. Highly advanced PET CT scans combine imaging technologies, which help healthcare professionals assess both the functioning and the structure of the organs and tissues at work. Unlike traditional imaging techniques that offer only structural images, PET CT scans can help doctors evaluate the functioning of various organs of the body in real-time and detect any unusual activities or changes. 


While a pet scan in Mohali is mostly used for cancer treatment and diagnosis, its use extends much beyond the department of oncology. It can also be highly beneficial to detect various ailments related to the brain and the heart of patients. In this article, we will discuss in detail the PET CT scans in detail.



What is a PET scan?

A PET scan in Chandigarh, or Positron Emission Tomography, is a test that is done to create images of the internal organs in real-time, giving an indication of how the internal organs are functioning. It uses a small, safe amount of radioactive material, called a tracer, that can be injected into the patient. The PET scanner then identifies the cells or organs that are absorbing high levels of radiotracer, potentially indicating a health issue. This scan is used all around the world, but is it particularly helpful for diagnosing and identifying cancer, and monitoring treatment progress if cancer is identified. It is also helpful to evaluate related conditions in the heart and brain, in addition to other conditions.


In what ways is a PET scan different from a CT Scan and an MRI?

The principal difference between a pet scan in Mohali, and methods such as CT scan and MRI is that a PET scan can show the real-time function of tissues and organs. CT scan uses X-rays, and MRI uses magnets and radio waves; therefore, they produce only still images of the tissues. A PET scan, on the other hand, can produce real-time imaging, and therefore, the evaluation of the function of the tissues is easier to assess. Some hospitals have started to use a combination of PET and CT scans, which can produce 3D images and produce better results.



How does a PET scan work?

A PET scan is a type of Nuclear Medicine Imaging, as noted earlier. It uses small doses of a safe radioactive chemical given through an IV. This radioactive chemical is called a radiotracer.  A PET scan, unlike the other imaging techniques, is sharply focused on metabolic activity and other processes, making it possible to diagnose certain abnormalities very early. The patient’s diseased or afflicted cells will take up more radioactive chemicals than the patient’s healthy cells. The PET scan may trace these diseased or afflicted cells and produce a picture of them. This picture is often fused with X-ray images from a CT scan Mohali, during a PET/CT scan. The radiotracer is usually injected into the patient through an injection. The patient is told about the necessary time (usually 60 minutes) to hold them still while the radiotracer is absorbed. For PET/CT scans, the radiotracer is injected, and then the patient is given an injection of contrast dye, which helps to generate sharper and more clear images of the internal organs. 


The patient will then be positioned on the examination table of the PET/CT scanner. The process of pet CT in Chandigarh takes the time of about 2 hours to complete. Around an hour is required for the radiotracer to circulate in the patient’s body, while the actual test only takes about half an hour.



Symptoms for which a healthcare provider might suggest a PET CT scan

A PET CT scan might be advised for a patient with symptoms like:

  1. Unexplained weight loss or persistent fatigue

  2. Persistent Pain without any known cause

  3. To monitor the effectiveness of cancer treatment

  4. Evaluation of unexplained neurological symptoms

  5. Assessment of the cardiac health of the patient 


It is important for the patients not to panic because of these symptoms, but to consult an experienced specialist who can determine whether or not they need a PET CT scan or not. 


If you are looking for the best pet CT scan in Chandigarh or the best pet scan in Mohali, Sohana Hospital might just be the right option for you. Sohana Hospital Mohali is home to the world’s most advanced diagnostic technology and North India’s most trusted and experienced doctors of various specialties who provide the most comprehensive and holistic care for all the health-related ailments of the patients in the region. Book your appointment today and take the first step towards a healthier and more confident life!

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