PET Scanning (Positron Emission Tomography)

PET is a new diagnostic imaging tool used primarily for searching the body for sites of cancer involvement by detecting cells that use sugar in an abnormal way for energy. The glucose is tagged with a signal emitting radioactive tracer that is detected by the scanner. These images are then correlated with anatomic imaging studies, usually CAT or MRI studies, for accurate localization of the tumor.

PET scanning is also applied to heart disease, primarily for detection of heart muscle (myocardium) that is deprived of normal blood supply (coronary) but which is still viable and therefore may be treated with special procedures such as bypass surgery, balloon dilatation or stenting.

More recent work with PET scanning involves the detection of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia in order to tailor medical treatment.

PET scanning is approved for the investigation of the following:

• Lung cancer
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Melanoma (excludes evaluation of regional nodes)
• Lymphoma
• Head and neck cancers
• Esophageal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Refractory seizures
• Prostate cancer
• Heart disease

For information on the PET scanning services at South Coast Medical Center, call the Radiology Department at (949) 499-7195.