Understanding PET/CT
Midtown Imaging, LLC operates one of the world’s most advanced PET/CT systems. Our Siemens Biograph 16 PET/CT is just one example of Midtown’s commitment to innovation and technology for early disease detection supporting physicians and their patients with improved diagnosis and treatment options.

Midtown’s PET/CT combines the fastest and most sophisticated Computed Tomography (CT) technology with the most advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) technology – all in a single exam. PET creates images of high metabolic activity in the body, rather than creating images of anatomy only. Together, a PET/CT scan allows the anatomically detailed information obtained from a CT scan with the biological function recorded by the PET scanner to form not merely a photograph, but a Biograph – an image that records living tissues and life processes. This allows our physicians to pinpoint where abnormalities may lie. Simply, the PET/CT allows our Physicians to not only ‘see’ the disease, but also understand how to optimize treatment for that particular patient. The benefits to the patient are tremendous - earlier diagnosis, accurate staging and localization, precise treatment and patient monitoring. With the state-of-the-art images that our scanners provide, patients increase the possibilities of a positive outcome and may avoid unnecessary procedures and treatments. PET/CT also provides early detection of the recurrence of cancer, revealing tumors that may otherwise be obscured by the scarring that has resulted from surgery and/or radiation therapy, particularly in the head and neck.

How is a PET-CT Performed?
Prior to having a PET-CT scan, a Midtown Imaging Technologist will inject the patient with a dose of a radiopharmaceutical tracer called fluorodeoxyglucose (floor-o-dee-ox-ee-glu-kos) or FDG. FDG contains many substances that mimic those normally found in the body including water, sugars, proteins and oxygen. Diseased cells require a great deal of sugar, or glucose, to have enough energy to grow. After the injection, the tracers are designed to accumulate in diseased cells, allowing the scanner to identify them by creating an image that highlights any abnormal physiology. This image helps our physicians determine if disease or an abnormality is present, the location and extent of disease, and track how rapidly the disease may be spreading.

Once injected with FDG, the patient is led to a private room to sit quietly for a one-hour waiting period. Patients usually wear their own clothing during the PET scan, but occasionally, they are asked to wear a gown. During the scan, the patient will be asked to lie still, on their back, with their arms above their head. The actual PET-CT scan will take approximately 45 minutes, sometime less. The entire procedure, including injection, should last less than two hours. You can expect short scan times as well as excellent image quality. We believe less time in our scanner means faster results and greater patient comfort.

Comparing Differences Between PET and CT with PET-CT
Alone, each test has its limitations but when the results of the scans are fused together they provide the most complete information on cancer location and metabolism.

PET-CT Advantages
Cancer:
PET Imaging can be used to detect and stage cancer. PET can help your physician decide about the best treatment and also assess your response to therapy.

Heart Disease:
If you have coronary artery Disease, PET is also very accurate in predicting the benefit you would receive from coronary artery bypass surgery and/or angioplasty.

Neurological Disease:
PET can help identify the location in the brain responsible for intractable seizures and assist in determining if surgery would be beneficial. At an early stage PET can also identify and characterize degenerative diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer’s.

PET-CT has proven to reduce costs of the diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers, reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies and other invasive surgical procedures, aid in determining the most effective method of cancer treatment, and can help determine if surgery for Coronary Artery disease will improve cardiac function.

Results of Your Test
A Midtown Board Certified Radiologist specializing in PET-CT interpretation will report the results of this test by telephone, fax, or mail to the referring physician promptly.