CT Scan Vs PET Scan

CT Scan and PET Scan: How Do They Work?

Have you ever wondered how CT scans and PET scans work to give a clear picture of your body? First, let’s talk about CT scans. CT scans are a narrow beam of X-rays that quickly spin around your body. These X-rays send signals to a computer, which turns them into cross-sectional images, like slices of a loaf of bread. We call these slices “tomographic images.” Now these slices are not ordinary slices. The computer collects a bunch of these slices and digitally stacks them together. What you end up with is a 3D image of yourself!. This 3D image helps identify diseases or injuries in different body areas, such as the abdomen for tumors or lesions and the heart for suspected heart issues. They’re also useful for imaging the head to locate injuries or tumors and the lungs for tumors or embolisms and abnormalities. 

Next is the PET scan, which stands for Positron Emission Tomography scan. This advanced imaging technique helps spot cancer and its spread. In this test, a sugary tracer is given to the patient to show how fast cells grow. These tracers are introduced through injection, swallowing, or inhalation. After gathering information from different tissues, doctors can see metabolic changes, blood flow, and chemical composition of the tissues. Areas with increased activity illuminate the images, indicating higher uptake in a PET scan.

Now imagine combining a PET scan with a CT scan. That’s a PET/CT scan! It gives us a 3D picture, revealing the structure and function of cells and tissues. If you have any queries, talk to your doctor before getting a scan.