PET/CT is a safe and highly effective exam that combines the functional information from a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) exam with the anatomical information from a Computed Tomography (CT) exam into a single study.

A PET exam detects changes in how the body's cells are utilizing compounds such as sugar and oxygen. The CT scan uses X-rays to produce images of the body anatomy. Both methods use computers to reconstruct information into three dimensional "slices" that provides a high resolution, non-invasive look inside of the body. The PET and CT images are fused together to create a set of images that are reviewed by a radiologist.

Your PET/CT exam may help your doctor to diagnose a potential health problem. If a disease is detected, a PET/CT exam helps the healthcare team develop and manage a treatment plan.

A PET/CT exam also helps doctors evaluate the status of disease progression, and helps predict the outcome of various therapeutic alternatives. It will assist in deciding the best approach to treatment and aide in monitoring the response to therapy. If it is shown that a course of treatment is not effective, then another course of action may be taken.