A powerful, new imaging test
The world of diagnostic imaging is experiencing a revolution with the coming of PET, a safe, painless procedure that is used to diagnose certain types of cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders. Unlike CT scans or MRI studies which produce a static view of anatomy and structure,
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans metabolism and body function. "With the amazing precision of PET technology, we can diagnose many diseases sooner and with higher accuracy, providing patients with more appropriate or earlier treatment," says Denise Savage, radiology manager at Virtua Memorial Hospital.
The implications for this new technology are far reaching, especially for cancer patients. With traditional imaging, an identified tumor must be surgically removed and biopsied to determine if it is cancerous. PET may show if a tumor is malignant without a biopsy, if it has spread, and if treatment has been effective. "PET provides better detection and more accurate staging of many cancers which can save patients from additional tests and the unnecessary pain and suffering that comes with some treatments or surgery," says
William Morgan, MD, chief of nuclear medicine at Virtua Memorial Hospital.
For people with coronary artery disease, PET can detect inadequate blood flow to the heart during stress. Other non-invasive cardiac tests are unable to do this. It's also used to assess various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, seizure disorders, and Parkinson's disease.