ositron Emission Tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine procedure that produces pictures of the body's biological functions.



PET is capable of detecting certain diseases before other imaging modalities such as: Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) because PET is able to capture chemical and physiological changes related to metabolism, as opposed to gross anatomy and structure, which is obtained by CT and MRI.


This is important since functional changes are often present before structural changes in tissues. PET images may therefore demonstrate pathological changes long before they would be evident in CT or MRI.

In fact, PET is already making crucial contributions to more cost-effective patient management in three primary medical disciplines:

  • Oncology
  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
Through the above medical disciplines-oncology, cardiology, and neurology- PET is able to identify the following:
  • Cancer (lung, breast, recurrent colorectal)
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Huntington's Disease
  • Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
With PET, radiologists are able to determine the unknown quickly and provide you with the most accurate and vital information about your health. Positron Emission Tomography is "imaging for hope".
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September 30, 2003