Due to its high cost, the advanced facility is available only in some renowned hospitals of select countries. PET scanning is also known as position emission tomography scanning. It does essential imaging function and is useful in detecting some of the deadly diseases such like cancer. PET scan helps in the determination of the tumor cell's spread by mapping brain and heart functionality & analyzing the blood flow in these parts. It also provides essential help in studying and evaluating ischemia & effects of myocardial infarction on the patients post heart surgery. It also determines the management protocol of the brain abnormality, the central nervous system disorder and also seizures.
There are some functional differences between PET/CT scanning and MRIs. PET/CT scan determines the spread of malignancy and its extent but full body MRI provides an internal organ view in 3D format. PET/CT scan combines ability of nuclear imaging and also shows functional attribute of internal organs. It greatly helps doctors in determination and staging of malignancies. A radioactive matter, which is also called radiotracer, is put in the body of the patient which then accumulates around affected organ of the body for the purpose of examining the organ while getting PET scan done. The tracer then emits gamma rays on these affected areas and also provides affected organs details with their chemical activity and metabolic activity. The metabolic activity determines the matter's concentration and helps in identifying and staging of tumor location.