The Imaging Center has been providing PET/CT service to local patients for some time now. The mobile unit, which visits our center on Fridays, is the same unit that is used by area hospitals.


Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is most frequently used for the detection and staging of cancer and for monitoring cancer therapy. PET is also instrumental in the evaluation of coronary artery disease and cardiac viability, and the assessment of neurological disorders. PET has also been approved by Medicare for use in diagnosing breast cancer and identifying metastatic disease.


In oncology, PET scans are used to detect cancer and examine the effects of cancer therapy by showing biochemical changes within a tumor. FDG-PET is a superior imaging technique used for staging Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as staging lung cancer and other tumors.


In cardiology, PET scans can be used to determine blood flow to the myocardium and help evaluate coronary artery disease. PET can help differentiate nonfunctioning myocardium form functioning myocardium that would benefit from angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery.


In neurology, PET scans of the brain can be used to evaluate patients that have memory disorders of undetermined etiology, brain tumors, or seizure disorders that are not responsive to therapy.


PET/CT scans are especially beneficial in helping to differentiate Alzheimer's from other types of dementia. Because Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in elderly patients, this technology can make a more accurate diagnose of the disease so that steps can be made to provide the patient with a higher quality of life. Although Alzheimer's cannot be accurately diagnosed until after death, PET/CT, along with other methods can predict Alzheimer's with 90% accuracy.


PET/CT exams can be scheduled by calling us @314-837-2882.