PET/CT Imaging

PET  (Positron Emission Tomography) is a non-invasive imaging technology that provides information that other tests (MRI, CT, Ultrasound) do not.  This technology uses PET and Computed Tomography (CT) combined to obtain a PET/CT image.   There are no side effects or adverse reactions from this scan.  The PET/CT scan takes approximately 20 minutes.

Types of PET/CT images...

ONCOLOGY

PET/CT has become an important imaging technique for patients with many types of cancers. It is most commonly used for Lung, Colo-rectal, Breast, Head & Neck, Esophageal, Lymphoma and Melanoma.

BRAIN PET/CT

Sugar (Glucose) is the primary source of energy for cells in the brain. PET/CT can detect hypo metabolism (decrease) as well as hyper metabolism (increase) in the brain. This study can be useful for diagnosing  Alzheimer’s (dementia patients) as well as patients that are post operative for brain tumors.

Other CT procedures performed at WNY PET/CT are:

CORONARY CT ANGIOGRAPHY (CCTA)

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a heart imaging test that takes high-resolution 3-D pictures of the moving heart and great vessels to determine if either fatty or calcium deposits have built up in the coronary arteries.

Your doctor may prescribe medication to bring your heart rate down prior to your exam, and you will receive an injection of x-ray dye (contrast).

The total time of the scan is less than ten seconds, but preparation can take an hour.

Plaque is a build up of fat and other substances, including calcium, which can, over time, narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart.

The result may be painful angina in the chest, or a heart attack. During this test you will be hooked up to an EKG monitor which will record when your heart is in the resting stage. This is the best time for the CT scan to be taken.

CARDIAC CALCIUM SCORE

A Cardiac Score is a non-invasive way of obtaining information about the location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries (the vessels that supply oxygen rich blood to the heart.) This scan takes pictures of the heart in thin sections. The computer program measures the calcium in the coronary arteries and gives you a score.

The whole exam should take about ten minutes from beginning to end. No x-ray contrast is used for this test.

CT ANGIOGRAPHY

CT Angiography is used to examine blood vessels in key areas of the body including the brain, kidneys, legs, lungs, heart, and neck.

This exam can be used to diagnose aneurysms, atherosclerosis, dissections and many other abnormalities in the blood vessels that may be causing you pain or discomfort.

During this exam you will be injected with x-ray contrast and the whole exam should be about fifteen minutes.

There are many other types of CT scans including the chest, head, neck, spine, extremities, and sinuses. Some of these exams require x-ray contrast. If you have any questions you can contact the ordering physician or call and speak with our CT Technologist.

 The above services are provided at:

WNY PET/CT