Positron+Emission+Tomography+Scanning+-+PET+Scan


 * Term:** Positron Emission Tomography Scanning

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a unique type of imaging test that helps doctors sees how the organs and tissues inside your body are actually functioning. A small amount of radioactive material is necessary to show this activity. PET scans can be used to diagnose a health condition, as well as for finding out how an existing condition is developing. A PET scan is useful in evaluating a variety of conditions including neurological problems, heart disease and cancer. Medicare and private insurance companies cover the cost of most PET scans.
 * Description:**

A PET scan allows physicians to measure the body's abnormal molecular cell activity to detect:
 * Applications:**
 * Cancers such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphonma, melanoma, melanoma, and other skin cancers
 * To assess tumor aggressiveness
 * To monitor success of therapy
 * To detect early any recurrent tumors
 * To provide a whole-body survey for cancer that may have spread
 * To identify benign and malignant growths
 * To help doctors decide on the most appropriate cancer treatment
 * Brain Disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and Epilepsy
 * To diagnose Alzheimer's and other dementia
 * To determine the location of epileptic seizures prior to surgery
 * To diagnose movement disorders like Parkinson's disease
 * Heart disease
 * To determine what heart tissue is still alive following a suspected heart attack
 * To predict success of angioplasty (balloon) or bypass surgery
 * To determine if coronary arteries are blocked
 * To detect which specific parts of the heart have been damaged

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 * Web Resources:**

Related tests include:
 * Related Terminology: **
 * Brain PET scan
 * Breast PET scan
 * Heart PET scan
 * Lung PET scan

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