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PET is very accurate in showing the presence or spread of many malignant
tumors. For example, it is more accurate in detecting the spread of
lung cancer and colon cancer than any other imaging method currently
available. A high degree of accuracy has also been demonstrated in
evaluating recurrent breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, ovarian cancer,
brain cancer, pancreatic cancer and tumors of the head and neck, as
well as several less common malignancies.
The patient receives an intravenous injection of a simple sugar glucose
which has a minute amount of a radioactive tracer. Once the radioactive
compound is distributed through the body and processed by the organ
being studied, the PET scanner detects the radioactivity and shows
it as an image on a video screen. The images reveal information about
the chemistry and function of that organ. Although all cells use glucose,
cells with increased activity use more glucose. Cancer cells are highly
active and use more glucose than neighboring cells, enhancing detection
of the tumor on the PET scan.
PET images are created through the combined use
of two state-of-the-art instruments: a whole-body scanner and a computer.
The scanner records the position of the tracers as the positrons
interact with electrons in the body, creating radiation that can be
detected outside of the body.
The computer reconstructs the patterns of detected radioactivity
into 3-dimensional pictures of the body.
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