The Pet scan procedure in Glendale, CA is an imaging test that helps your doctor determine if you have any diseases or medical conditions. The scan itself uses a dye with radioactive tracers. You can either inhale, swallow or inject the tracer into the vein, depending on where the test is needed. Either way, the tissues and organs of the body absorb the tracer material.
The Positron Emission Tomography scanner then searches out the tracer material and highlights it so that your doctor can see if your tissues and organs are working correctly. The tracer tends to collect in areas of the body with higher chemical activity. If the doctor notices more of the tracer in one area than another, it could be an indication that something is wrong. They can then determine what diseases or conditions could be located in that region and determine the cause of your problem based on other issues, such as headaches, fever, and more.
The PET scan can also measure oxygen usage, blood flow, how sugar is used/processed, and more.
Why They’re Performed
Your doctor is likely to order a PET scan to inspect organ metabolism, tissue metabolism, oxygen intake, blood flow, or something else. These scans are designed to show cellular level problems, giving your healthcare professional the best view of more complex diseases. They are commonly used to detect brain disorders, heart problems, and cancer.
Showing metabolic changes that happen at the cellular level is imperative because the disease usually starts at the cellular level. Therefore, you can find out if anything is wrong faster and start the most appropriate treatment. It gives you a better outlook on your overall health condition and may help any doctor diagnose your illness or disease quicker. You may also require more imaging tests later. Visit Glendale MRI Institute for more info.
