The PET scanner detects the radiation emitted by the tracer and shows metabolic activity.

The CT scanner takes high-resolution images of the body’s structure.

The two images are combined to give a comprehensive view of both function and anatomy.

Purpose of PET-CT Scans

🎯 1. Cancer Detection and Staging
Detects tumors and cancer spread to lymph nodes or organs

Helps in staging (determining how far the cancer has spread)

Finds hidden or recurrent cancers

Common in lung, breast, lymphoma, colorectal, head & neck cancers

📈 2. Monitoring Cancer Treatment
Assesses how well chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery is working

Detects residual or returning tumors

Helps guide future treatment plans

🧠 3. Brain Disorders
Evaluates conditions like:

Alzheimer’s disease

Epilepsy (identifying seizure focus)

Brain tumors

Parkinson’s disease

Helps in early detection and functional mapping of brain activity

❤️ 4. Heart Disease
Identifies areas of the heart with reduced blood flow or damaged muscle tissue

Helps differentiate between viable (living) and non-viable heart tissue

Guides decisions for procedures like angioplasty or bypass surgery

🦴 5. Infection and Inflammation Detection
Detects fever of unknown origin

Finds infected areas in bones, joints, or organs

Useful in autoimmune disorders or prosthetic implant complications

Advantages of PET-CT
✅ High accuracy by combining two imaging techniques

✅ Early detection of disease even before structural changes appear

✅ Precise localization of disease for surgery or radiation planning

✅ Non-invasive and safe

✅ Useful for whole-body scanning

Is PET-CT Safe?
Yes. The amount of radiation used in PET-CT is low and medically regulated. The benefits of early and accurate diagnosis typically outweigh the risks. However, it's usually not recommended during pregnancy.

Conclusion
PET-CT is a revolutionary imaging tool that plays a crucial role in cancer management, neurological assessment, and cardiac care. By combining functional and anatomical information, PET-CT helps doctors make faster, more accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions—leading to better patient outcomes.