PET/CT
An integrated PET/CT scan combines images from a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a computed tomography (CT) scan that have been performed at the same time using the same machine. A CT scan provides detailed pictures of tissues and organs inside the body, while a PET/CT scan reveals any abnormal activity. Combining these scans creates a more complete image than either test can offer alone.
A PET/CT scan creates 3D pictures of organs and tissues inside the body. A small amount of a radioactive substance is injected into a vein. This substance is absorbed by the body’s cells depending on how much energy they use. Because cancer cells tend to use more energy than healthy cells, they absorb more of the radioactive substance. The PET/CT scanner then detects this substance to produce images.
The majority of PET/CT scans are performed for oncologic applications. Physicians utilize PET/CT scans for diagnosing, staging, re-staging and evaluating treatments for their patients. The scan helps distinguish between benign and malignant disorders by assessing tissues at a cellular level.
A PET/CT scan can also show the extent of disease. For patients whose cancer is newly diagnosed, it is important to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body so that appropriate treatment can begin as soon as possible. A PET/CT scan images the entire body in a single examination, and aids the physician in detecting the primary site(s) as well as any metastases. Thanks to a PET/CT scan, painful, costly and invasive surgery, such as thoracotomy, may no longer be necessary for diagnosis.
The scan will also help physicians monitor the treatment of disease. For example, chemotherapy leads to changes in cellular activity that is observable by PET/CT long before structural changes can be measured by CT alone. This gives physicians an alternative technique to evaluate treatment plans earlier, perhaps even leading to modifications in treatment, before an evaluation would normally be made using other imaging technologies.
After treatment is complete, a PET/CT scan allows the physician to investigate suspected recurrence of cancer, revealing tumors that might otherwise be obscured by scar tissue resulting from surgery and radiation therapy.
Plan to be at the testing center for 2 hours. It is important to arrive on time. If you cannot arrive on time, please call 24 hours in advance to reschedule your test.
A PET/CT scan is not painful but it requires patience. You will receive an injection in advance of the scan. Typically it takes 60 to 90 minutes for the material to be distributed throughout your body. During this time you will be asked to relax comfortably in a recliner in a quiet room. You will also need to be still for the entire scan, which takes 25-45 minutes depending on what your doctor has ordered.
You will receive very detailed instructions to prepare for your study. The quality of your scan depends on your adherence to these directions, so it is very important to follow them closely. If you have any questions about this procedure, please call our office to speak to a specialist. Prep may vary based on your study. Please be sure to review the instructions specific to your study. Please see exam specific prep forms below.
Safety notes
Please tell your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to an enhancing agent or iodine; special medicine may be prescribed for you to take before your exam. If you are anxious about the test, or are claustrophobic, tell your physician before the day of your exam. Your doctor may choose to prescribe medicine to help you relax. Other nuclear medicine procedures should not be scheduled the same day as your PET/CT exam.
For your safety, please notify our scheduling department and technologists if you:
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to an enhancing agent or iodine.
- Find it difficult or uncomfortable to lie flat on your back.
Prep Forms
A highly specialized radiologist will interpret your images and prepare a diagnostic report for your physician. The results of our study will be reported to your physician within 48 hours. We provide consultation and analysis of the scans and collaborate with your physician if requested. However, only your physician is authorized to report the results to you.
Q. How does a PET/CT scan differ from CT or MRI scans?
A. CT and MRI scans are anatomic imaging modalities, which means that they look at the size and shape of organs and body structures. A PET/CT scan is a metabolic imaging modality, which means it looks at cellular activity. The information collected from a PET/CT scan is different from any other test that is available.
Q. Is PET/CT scan safe?
A. The risks associated with a PET/CT scan are very minimal. The quantity of radiation is low and the radiopharmaceutical degrades quickly so that no detectable radioactivity is present after several hours. In addition to the radioactive decomposition, the remaining radiopharmaceutical is eliminated from the body through urine. Family members are not at risk for exposure because approximately 90% of the radioactivity has left the body or decomposed before the patient has left the center.
Q. Can I have a PET/CT scan if I’m allergic to contrast dyes?
A. Yes
Q. What steps do you take to reduce radiation?
A. We adhere to the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle, using tools that automatically adjust the radiation dosage based on body type and anatomy. As part of that commitment, we invested in a new technology called iDose that lowers the amount of radiation patients receive by 50% to 70%. The amount of radiation you receive varies by body type and the anatomic region being scanned. Your CT technologist can estimate your radiation dose at the time of your scan. If you had the same CT scan at Oregon Imaging Centers prior to our iDose, your technologist can determine the percentage of radiation reduction.
Q. Is there an IV involved with the PET/CT?
A. Yes, please read the “What to Expect” section for details.
Q. How should I prepare for my CT?
A. You will receive instructions when you schedule your appointment. You can also refer to the “prep” section of the website. Be sure to review the instructions for your particular study, as they can vary based on type of study.
Q. Why is there a special diet?
A. PET/CT scan measures the body’s metabolism. By adhering to the special diet and exercise restrictions we can better measure the metabolic rate of different areas within your body.
Q. What is a radiopharmaceutical?
A. A radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive drug. The most commonly used PET/CT radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive form of glucose (sugar). To begin the PET/CT procedure, a small amount of glucose is injected into your bloodstream. There is no danger to you from this injection. Glucose is a common substance that every cell in your body needs in order to function. Diabetic patients do not need to worry; it would take 1,000,000 doses of this radiopharmaceutical to equal the glucose in 1 teaspoon of sugar. Radiopharmaceuticals must pass multiple quality control measures before it is used for any patient injection.
Q. Are there any potential side effects to a PET/CT scan?
A. There are no side effects to having a PET/CT scan. Make sure you drink plenty of water and check with your physician if you have any concerns.
Q. How often should I have a PET/CT scan?
A. If you are under a physician’s care, you should follow your physician’s recommendations for frequency of PET/CT scans.
Q. Why is PET/CT not well known?
A. PET/CT has been around for years, but originally was used only in research. As the technology grew, PET/CT procedures were performed only in dedicated imaging facilities that had ready access to a cyclotron and a radiochemistry lab to make the radiopharmaceutical. Now, private companies are producing radiopharmaceuticals for distribution to imaging facilities across the country, making it feasible for more medical facilities to offer PET/CT scanning. Oregon Imaging Centers has been performing PET/CT scans in the community for nearly 15 years.
Q. How many PET studies are performed per year?
A. Approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million PET/CT scans were performed last year. The number of PET/CT scans performed increases dramatically every year.
Q. Is a PET/CT scan painless?
A. The only pain involved is the needle prick when you receive the radiopharmaceutical injection, which does not differ from any other type of injection.
PET/CT scan is performed for a variety of oncologic conditions , specific exam types and radiopharmaceuticals are utilized based on your physicians exam request.
What is NetSpot?
NETSPOT is a new FDA approved agent, gallium-68 dotatate, used as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracer instead of radiolabeled glucose to better diagnose and treat neuroendocrine tumors.
- NETs are difficult to find at early stages because they are usually very small and can develop anywhere in the body, such as the lungs, intestines, pancreas and stomach.
- NETs don’t rapidly consume the typical glucose tracer; therefore the standard PET scans are not as effective detecting these tumors.
How Does it work?
NET cells are mainly comprised of receptors for the hormone somatostatin and unlike most other cancers, they don’t consume glucose, which normally identifies the tumor. Ga-68 dotatate mimicks the hormone that binds to somatostatin and highlights the tumor on PET imaging.
Benefits of NetSpot
- Superior imaging for earlier detection
- Less unnecessary surgery
- Improved prediction of clinical response to somatostatin receptor-mediated therapies.
- Lower effective dosage
- 2 hour vs. 24-48 hour protocol
- No bowel cleansing needed
What are the benefits to our patients?
Our providers will be better able to diagnose neuroendocrine tumors, determine the best treatment options, plan surgery, and monitor for recurrence.
Are there any specific patient guidelines?
Patients will need to discontinue short acting somatostatin analogue for 24 hours and long acting analogues for 3 weeks.
Everything You Need to Know About PSMA Pet Scans for Prostate Cancer
As of May 27th, PSMA PET Scans have been FDA approved for commercial use. Oregon Imaging Centers, is one of the only facilities in Oregon currently performing this exam on a routine basis.
When is a PSMA Pet Scan Used for Prostate Cancer?
- Staging: Patients with a first-time diagnosis of prostate cancer benefit from using a PSMA PET scan because of its superior ability to detect cancer spread — offering the best possible future treatment options.
- Restaging: Patients with suspected biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, meaning patients with elevated PSA levels after definitive therapy, benefit from using PSMA PET scans because of its ability to precisely locate recurrent prostate cancer and detect cancer spread. For both of these reasons, PSMA PET scans offer the best treatment options for recurrent prostate cancer.
How Do PSMA (Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen) Pet Scans for Prostate Cancer Work?
PSMA PET scans use a different functional method of imaging prostate cancer cells. PSMA is a glycoprotein, a type of sugar-protein that resides on the surface of prostate cancer cells. These tracers, such as PSMA, are injected and then PET scan images are acquired in the standard manner. As with all PET scans, these images are then interpreted by a radiologist and subsequently used to guide treatment strategy.
