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PET/CT
A dual-purpose imaging device, PET/CT is literally the combination of PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computed tomography) imaging techniques within a single machine. The individual scans, which are taken virtually simultaneously, can be presented separately or as a single, overlapping, or "fused" image. The two techniques present different types of information about the human body: PET shows metabolic or chemical activity in the body; CT shows the body's anatomical structures. For example, a PET scan would highlight a tumor's increased glucose consumption, while a CT scan would reveal its physical mass.
Taking the two scans virtually simultaneously ensures that the patient remains in place and, therefore, that the two images form a precise computer overlay—that the tumor "hot spot" on the PET scan corresponds directly to the physical mass on the CT scan. This fused image provides a more reliable alternative to the traditional side-by-side visual comparison of PET and CT images. According to a study from Germany, presented at the 2003 meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), PET/CT fusion images made a critical diagnostic difference in approximately 20% of cases. PET/CT also eliminates the common problem of a delay between the two studies, during which time the patient's condition may change.
In addition to its diagnostic benefits, PET/CT has the potential to substantially impact treatment plans for cancer patients:
- Radiation Oncologists can use PET/CT's combined information about metabolic activity and anatomical location to better tailor radiation fields—reaching all the cancer cells while avoiding damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
- Surgeons can use PET/CT to pinpoint exactly where to perform a biopsy or surgical excision.
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