PET SCAN - the next break through in diagnosis of cancer
Cancer is a dreadful disease, which if not diagnosed at an early stage is fatal. Hence early diagnosis plays a vital role in treatment. Until recently cancer could only be diagnosed with the help of CT scans & MRI’s but now going one step ahead with the technology is the advent of PET or Positron Emission Topography the super efficient imaging device which is unique in a way that it shows the chemical functioning of organs and tissues which is useful in detecting cancer early. PET is the first device that allows a detailed measurement and the functioning of distinct areas of human brain while the patient is comfortable, conscious and alert.
Dr Ajay Aggarwal, Senior Consultant Radiologist, Diwan Chand Satyapal Aggarwal Imaging Research Centre, DCA gives an insight on PET:
PET is diagnostic examination that produces powerful images of human body’s biological functions and reveals mystery of health and disease. By conducting a complete diagnostic examination that involves the acquisition of images based on the detection of radiation from the emission of positrons; tiny particles emitted from a radioactive substance administered to the patient. The subsequent images of the human body developed with the technique are used to evaluate a variety of diseases. The progressive development and usefulness of PET is sensitivity than other techniques for studying regional metabolism and neuro-receptor activity in the brain and other tissues in contrast to the structural or anatomical results subsisted by techniques as X-rays, CT and MRI.
Credited to its excellent features of imaging, many mysteries of the human brain have been unraveled by positron emission tomography (PET), which is useful to diagnose cancer, coronary artery disease and certain brain diseases. PET is an integral part in management of lung and colorectal cancers, lymphomas and melanomas, when PET is incorporated into diagnostic algorithm. This is applicable to the diagnosis of recurrence of many malignancies. Most tumors have a higher metabolic rate, than surrounding normal tissue. PET images of glucose uptake can often differentiate the grade tumors, based on the intensity of FDG uptake reflecting their metabolic rates. Information from PET imaging is useful to determine which type of combination of treatment that is most likely to be beneficial in managing the patient’s tumor.
Also, PET is progressive in detecting heart conditions as it reveals the blood flow to the heart muscle and help evaluate signs of coronary artery disease. While the PET of the brain is used to evaluate patients who have memory disorders of an undetermined cause, suspected or proven brain tumors or seizure disorders that are not responsive to medical therapy and are therefore candidates for surgery.
Attributed with variant advantages over various radiographic diagnosis for cancer, PET scan is accurate in the detection of biochemical processes that suggest disease before changes in anatomy are apparent with other imaging tests.
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