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Background and Identification
Positron Emission Tomography or PET scanners are machines that use radioactive drugs or tracers to show how your tissues and organs are functioning. According to Mayo Clinic the tracer may be inhaled, injected or swallowed depending on the organ being studied and it collects in areas of your body that have higher chemical activity which often means an area of disease. On a PET scan, this would be reflected as a bright spot.
A PET scan can be useful in evaluating or revealing many conditions including cancers, heart disease and brain disorders. They are often combined with other medical imaging equipment like MRI or CT to take special images.
Additional Information
- Wikipedia: Positron Emission Tomography
- Mayo Clinic: Positron Emission Tomography Scan
- Johns Hopkins: Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
