Does PET emit radiation?

Risks. For your PET scan, a radioactive drug (tracer) will be injected into a vein. Because the amount of radiation you’re exposed to in the tracer is small, the risk of negative effects from the radiation is low.

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What is PET scan used for?

In general, PET scans may be used to evaluate organs and/or tissues for the presence of disease or other conditions. PET may also be used to evaluate the function of organs, such as the heart or brain. The most common use of PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.

Do PET scans make you sick?

If undergoing a combination PET-CT scan, the iodine-based contrast dye used for the CT component can cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, flushing, and mild rash. In rare cases, a serious, all-body allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis may occur.

How accurate is PET scan for cancer?

PET has been reported to have a sensitivity of 97–100% and a specificity of 62–100% in the detection of recurrent tumours. Scans are most reliable 6 months to 1 year after completion of therapy. Before that time, hypermetabolic inflammatory changes may result in false-positive studies.

What is PET modality?

PET is a primary imaging modality for the detection and tracking of cancer. Nuclear imaging (PET and SPECT) are also considered a standard of care for myocardial perfusion exams to see if there is a lack of blood flow to the heart muscle due to a heart attack.

How do you get rid of radiation after a PET scan?

The radioactive material passes out of the body through urine or stool (feces). It may take a few hours or days to completely pass out of the body. Drink lots of fluids after the test to help flush it out.

What happens after a positive PET scan?

What happens after a PET scan? After the test, you can go about your day unless your doctor gives you other instructions. However, because radioactive material will remain in your body for about 12 hours, you’ll want to limit your contact with both pregnant women and infants during this time.