MDRC

PET Scan in Modern Diagnostic

At Modern Diagnostic & Research Centre, our state-of-the-art GE Discovery 610 PET-CT machine provides best diagnostic imaging with the highest possible accuracy. The PET- CT Scan combines functional imaging from a PET scan with the anatomical detail of a CT scan, thereby providing doctors with a complete picture of both the functioning and the structure of the tissues and organs.

What is PET - CT and how does it function?

A PET- CT scan involves the administration of a radioisotope (usually a glucose-based isotope like 18F-FDG) in minute quantities. The isotope moves around the body and accumulates mostly in tissues exhibiting high metabolic activity - like cancer cells, inflamed tissue, or regions of altered metabolism.
The PET section of the scan records this uptake of the tracer and as a result, efficiently marks the “hot spots” where metabolic activities are remarkably high or low, thereby providing functional data.
At the same time, the CT section records the anatomical (structural) images-bones, soft tissues, organs-thus allowing the exact localization of the areas where abnormal metabolic activity (from PET) is present.
The combination of PET-CT images gives the doctors a more accurate detection of the disease, a better planning of the treatment, and an easier monitoring of the response than through functional or structural imaging alone.

Why PET - CT is Important ?

PET-CT is a very strong diagnostic instrument that is deployed in multiple clinical settings:

Cancer detection and management: PET- CT is able to detect cancer at the very early stages, to point out the places where it has already spread (metastases), to stage the disease (i.e. to give the exact size of growth and spread), to guide biopsy, to plan radiotherapy, to find out how well the treatment is working, and to recognize the return of the disease.
Heart disease evaluation: For the patients suffering from heart problems, PET - CT can provide information about blood circulation, recognize the presence of dead or scarred heart tissues, determine the heart tissue's vitality, and aid in planning surgical interventions like bypass or angioplasty when the results of other tests (e.g. stress tests) are inconclusive.
Neurological (brain) disorders: In addition to diagnosing brain tumors, PET-CT can also support the diagnosis of epilepsy, dementia, and other brain metabolic/functional anomalies that might not be apparent with CT or MRI.
Infection, inflammation & other unexplained conditions: In the case of fever of unknown origin or other similar conditions, PET-CT can be very helpful in pinpointing the areas with abnormal metabolism, thus aiding the diagnosis further.

Advantages of PET-CT

Functional and anatomical imaging are mixed together - their accuracy is higher than each of PET or CT taken separately.
Early detection: PET-CT has the ability to recognize physiological changes caused by a disease before any bodily alteration becomes visible.
Non-invasive and painless (the only discomfort being the tracer injection) no surgery–related issues.
Faster and more thorough than carrying out several individual scans.

What to Expect: Procedure & Preparation

Before the scan

Normally, a fasting period of 4–6 hours is required for patients (plain water is allowed).
Blood sugar levels of the diabetic patients should be in check prior to the scan; please let our staff know beforehand.
For best results, you might be asked to refrain from heavy meals, sugary food, caffeine, nicotine, or strenuous exercise for one day prior to the scan.
Serum creatinine reports are required if IV iodinated contrast administration is needed.
Please provide all the necessary medical records: past scans (CT/MRI/PET), reports, biopsies or histopathology reports, current medications/surgery history - this will aid in precise reporting.

During the scan

First, tracer injection; next, around 30–60 minutes of waiting for the tracer to spread throughout the body.
Estimated duration of the scan is 20–45 minutes according to the area(s) under investigation.
You will be asked to remain motionless; the imaging procedure is painless and non-invasive.

After the scan

Usually, normal activities can be back on the schedule. The tracer is out of the system in a natural way within 24 hours.
The results go through the process of analysis performed by skilled nuclear medicine doctors and are reported within 24–48 hours (subject to the protocols).

Medical Safety, Limitations & Precautions

PET-CT brings a tiny amount of radiation exposure (from PET tracer as well as CT X-rays). The radiation is regarded as low, yet the need for repeated scans to be performed should be properly justified.
Sometimes it is not possible to differentiate between benign and malignant diseases - in such cases, one has to depend on correlation with biopsy, lab tests, or clinical context
In the case of pregnant or breastfeeding women - the procedure of PET-CT could be avoided or performed only, when necessary, after weighing the risks and benefits.
Patients with poorly controlled diabetes, high blood sugar or certain kidney problems (if iodinated contrast is used) may have specific preparation or be offered alternative imaging.

Why Choose MDRC for PET-CT

MDRC is always ready to provide the topmost PET-CT diagnostics and for that, we have the following:

High End GE Discovery 610 Machine which provide accurate functional and structural imaging for the best diagnosis.
Different PET-CT protocols according to the patient’s needs (entire body scan, neuro scans, heart evaluations, oncology scans, etc.).
Nuclear medicine specialists with years of experience reading and reporting on the scans, so you will have correct and clinically useful reports.
Easy to schedule appointments, a nice atmosphere during the scan, and good communication from the staff throughout the preparation and after the treatment.

No matter if you are looking for cancer, heart, brain, or just unexplained symptoms issues evaluation - our Nuclear Medicine facility is made to give you detailed, early, and accurate diagnostic insight.

Contact & Appointments

If you want to schedule a PET-CT scan at MDRC, or if you want more information about our protocols, please don't hesitate to contact us at 01246712000. Our staff will work with you to ensure you are ready for the scan and will provide you with care and transparency throughout the entire process.