CT Scan And PET Scan

Every year many people undertake imaging tests to assist physicians in diagnosing a health problem. As per Harvard Medical School reports, approximately 80 million CT scan imaging tests are done each year. Without the necessity for an incision, imaging techniques offer a view inside the human body. This assists in keeping patients out of the surgery room and protects them from the dangers and expenses associated with surgery. Furthermore, imaging tests assist physicians in making rapid choices that allow them to treat patients immediately.

The majority of imaging tests are performed to assist physicians in detecting or monitoring an injury or illness. PET scans and CT scans NJ are two frequently requested examinations; however, they are not the same.

This blog will look at how these tests operate, why they’re performed, and how  PET scans vs. CT scans are different yet similar.

Introduction to CT Scan

A computed tomography (CT) scan is a unique type of imaging technique. A full-body CT scan creates a comprehensive three-dimensional picture of your body’s inside. This scan is often ordered to look for brain, neck, spine, chest, or abdominal abnormalities. In addition, your doctor may assess both hard tissues (bones) and soft tissues (muscles and organs) by examining CT scan pictures. As a result, a full-body CT scan of NJ may detect everything from a bone fracture to a malignancy.

CT scan services are routine in hospitals and imaging facilities because they enable physicians to make important medical decisions quickly. They are particularly useful for rapidly checking for life-threatening illnesses. For instance, individuals who have been involved in a vehicle accident get a CT scan. It enables a physician to examine for bone fractures, organ damage, and internal bleeding.

Here’s How CT Scan Is Performed

People consider a CT scan to be a more comprehensive version of an x-ray. Multiple x-ray beams are used in CT scan equipment to take pictures of the body from various angles. This data is shown on a monitor screen as cross-sectional images, or “slices.”

Typically, a patient will lay flat on an examination table throughout the scan. The platform will then be moved through the CT scanner while pictures are taken. Scanning typically takes a couple of minutes. Certain individuals may be required to consume a contrast material before the scan, either orally or intravenously. Contrast is a dye that illuminates the regions under examination, allowing physicians to see the area more clearly.

While CT scan is a painless and simple process, technicians strive to complete the scan fast. By using cutting-edge CT scan equipment, physicians can expedite patients’ time in and time out of the exam room.

Introduction to PET Scan 

A PET scan is a kind of nuclear medicine imaging that uses positron emission tomography (PET). The PET scan creates pictures of the interior of your body using a small quantity of radioactive substance known as a radiotracer, a camera, and a computer. 

PET scans vary from other imaging methods in that they focus on your organs instead of your bones. A liquid will be injected containing tiny radioactive particles before the scan. Then there is a short waiting period for the particles to disperse through the body. Finally, you’ll be scanned to see whether there are any particles in your organs. The pictures captured by this scanner are sent to a computer, which converts them into useable images for physicians to examine.

PET scans are often used to diagnose diseases of the blood, organs, and brain. For example, they may be used to aid in the diagnosis of epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, but they are seldom used to examine ordinary injuries or cancer.

However, they assess the effectiveness of a variety of cancer therapies. In addition, PET scans utilize radiation, but not as much as CT scans. Therefore, it reduces the risk and allows you to have many PET scans in a short period.

Keep in mind that conventional PET scan pictures are far less detailed than MRI or CT scan images. As a result, a hybrid PET-CT scan is available, which combines the two methods to provide a highly detailed and precise picture. The PET-CT scan is frequently used to aid in the diagnosis of cancer.

The most frequent application of PET scans is to identify and monitor cancer. Doctors may also use a PET scan to evaluate heart and brain function.

Here’s How PET Scan Is Performed

A technician will inject a tiny quantity of the radiation detector into a patient’s vein, often from the inside of the elbow. Following the injection, the detector will circulate throughout the body, eventually accumulating in organs and tissues. A patient must wait about one hour for the tracer to be absorbed by their body. Then, doctors will be able to detect traces in tumors, inflammatory regions, or cancer cells.

Patients lay down on exam tables that slide into scanners once the tracer is inhaled. It will be possible to see 3-D pictures on a computer display using a PET scanner to detect the tracer. To produce specialized pictures, several imaging facilities mix PET scans and CT scans.

What To Expect During PET Scan

A member of staff will insert an IV into your veins. Once the IV is placed, the radioactive material for the scan will be administered. The radioactive material will not affect you.

Following the injection, your mobility is restricted. Excessive movement may cause the drug to migrate into regions that have not been examined. In addition, it makes it more difficult for physicians to interpret the image. It takes 30 to 90 minutes for the radioactive material to reach the bodily regions that will be scanned.

Additionally, you may be requested to consume a contrast liquid. This contrast liquid aids in the clarity of the images. You will be instructed to go to the toilet shortly before the test starts to empty your bladder.

This liquid may cause a hot or itching sensation around the IV. Additionally, you may have a metallic taste on your tongue. If you experience a more severe reaction, such as difficulty breathing, speak up immediately.

When the scan is ready to begin, the technician will assist you in comfortably positioning your body on a table. You will most likely be on your back. However, you may be required to lay on your stomach or side. That is dependent on the area of your body that requires scanning.

Occasionally, a PET-CT scan is utilized to schedule radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Your body posture will be critical in this situation. Therefore, the technologist will place a mask or cast on you to render you motionless during the scan.

The PET-CT scanner resembles a big doughnut. When it begins, the table rapidly slides through the middle slot, allowing the technician to check your posture. A member of staff will monitor the test from a neighboring room and will be able to talk to you via intercom.

PET Scan Vs. CT Scan

Perhaps the most significant distinction between a CT scan and a PET scan is their focal point. A CT scan produces a detailed, still picture of an organ, tissue, or bone. A PET scan demonstrates how your body’s tissues function at the molecular level. Additional distinctions include the following:

They use a variety of materials

 CT scans generate pictures by passing x-rays through the body. PET scans make use of a radioactive substance that emits energy. The energy is then recognized and converted to pictures using a specialized camera.

A PET scan requires additional time

A CT scan takes just a few minutes. That is what makes it an ideal tool for use in emergency circumstances when physicians must respond quickly. However, PET scans may take between 20 minutes and several hours to complete, depending on the patient’s health. In certain instances, the process may take many days.

No radiation is retained in the body after a CT scan

No radiation is retained in the body following a CT scan. On the other hand, trace amounts of radiation may remain in the body for a brief while after a PET scan.

PET scans detect cancer sooner than other types of imaging

Unlike other types of imaging, a PET scan visualizes molecular activity, which enables physicians to detect illnesses in their earliest stages. As a result, a PET scan is a very reliable method of identifying cancer. CT scans detect problems early on when a disease starts to alter the structure of tissues or organs.