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PET Scan Benefits and Risks: What Every Patient Should Know
By Raveena M Prakash
Positron emission tomography, also commonly referred to as a PET scan, is a significant imaging technique used to observe the metabolic processes in the body. Starting from cancer diagnosis to monitoring the activities of the brain, these PET scan benefits have become a major milestone in cancer care and its treatments. But like any medical procedure, it comes with some types of benefits and side effects.
In this blog, we’ll look more into the PET scan and what to expect and what to avoid during the procedure.
What is a PET Scan?
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that often produces accurate images of your organs and tissues that are suspected to have cancer. This test is often considered safe and precise and it uses a safe and injectable radioactive chemical called a radiotracer and a device called a PET scanner.
This scanner detects diseased cells that often absorb a large amount of the radiotracer, which generally indicates the presence of cancer or a potential health problem.
Health care providers generally use PET scans to help diagnose cancer and assess cancer treatment. It can also assess certain heart and brain issues with the scan.
Benefits of a PET Scan
Here are some of the benefits of a PET scan, these may include:
- Early disease diagnosis: Performing these scans helps to detect cellular changes before any types of structural changes that become visible on other imaging tests. It may allow early diagnosis of conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and heart issues.
- Accurate cancer staging: These scans help to determine the stage of cancer, showing whether it has spread to lymph nodes or other organs. This is essentially crucial for treatment planning.
- Monitoring treatment response: Doctors often use these scans to diagnose how well a treatment such as chemotherapy is working by observing changes in metabolic activity within tumors.
- Brain and heart imaging: These scans are used to assess brain disorders such as epilepsy, dementia, and Parkinson's disease and in evaluating the blood flow to the heart, identifying the areas of reduced function.
- Providing accurate guidance for surgery or Biopsy: PET scans are used to highlight active disease areas; they can help oncologists choose the most appropriate site for a biopsy and whether surgery is necessary.
What are the risks and side effects of PET scans?
Here are some of the risks and side effects of PET scans, these may include:
- Allergic reactions: Some people might experience an allergic reaction due to the radioactive tracer used in these scans. Some of the symptoms may include itching, experiencing difficulty in breathing, and hives. In rare cases, a severe allergic reaction might happen, which can be life-threatening.
- Radiation exposure: These scans involve the use of radioactive materials, which can increase the risk of cancer and health conditions over time. The amount of substance used in these scans is considered safe.
- Nausea: Nausea is another common side effect of PET scans, especially when patients receive the contrast dyes. In some cases, patients might experience nausea and vomiting after completing the scan. This is usually mild and wears off on its own within a few hours.
- Headache: This is a common side effect of PET scans. They are usually mild and go away after the dosage of dyes wears off.
- Dizziness: Some patients might often experience dizziness or lightheadedness after these scans. This is usually mild and goes away within a few hours.
- Pain or discomfort: Some patients might experience pain or discomfort at the injection site or in the other sites of the body during or after the injection.
What’s to expect during a PET scan?
Here’s what to expect the following during a PET scan, including:
- The patient usually receives an injection of radiotracer that contains a safe and small amount of radioactive drug. The most commonly used radiotracer is a substance called fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).
- You may be requested to sit for an hour while the radiotracer moves through your bloodstream and gets absorbed by the patient's organs and tissues. Too much movement and activity can send the radiotracer to areas of your body that your oncologist isn’t testing. The patient won’t be able to feel the radiotracer.
- The patients are requested to lie down on an exam table that slides in and out of the PET/CT scanner. These scanners are shaped like doughnuts, and the opening is about 30 inches in diameter.
- During the scan, which usually takes 30 minutes, you must remain still. The movement can still appear blurry.
- The patients often hear buzzing and clicking sounds as the scanner takes pictures.
- A healthcare technician often reviews the scans before you leave to ensure the images are focused.
If you are getting a PET/CT, you may get an IV injection of a contrast dye. This dye helps to produce sharper and clearer images.
Who should avoid PET scans?
These scans are often considered as safe and precise and rarely cause any health issues to patients. The amount of radiation in the radiotracer is comparatively low. It doesn’t stay long in the body. Patients who are supposed to get these scans should be required to drink a lot of water after PET scan to help and flush out the radioactive medicine from your body.
Some people need to avoid getting these scans, including:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People kidney problems
- Individuals with uncontrolled diabetic issues
Always discuss your medical history and concerns with your healthcare provider before starting the procedure.
Consult Today
PET scans are an effective diagnostic tool in modern medicine, especially in cancer care, offering more insight into how your body is functioning at the cellular level. PET scans play an important role in diagnosing and treating complex diseases, especially cancer and neurological conditions.
At Oncare, we offer premium-quality cancer treatments including advanced cancer surgeries at affordable price ranges with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with your cancer specialist. Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatments today.
Frequently Asked Questions
A PET scan is an effective method used to discover a variety of health conditions, including cancer, heart diseases, and brain disorders. Healthcare professionals often use this method to help diagnose, monitor, and treat cancer.
These tests are often used to check for signs of:
- Cancer, including brain cancer, lung cancer and thyroid cancer
- Coronary artery disease, heart attack, or other artery problems
- Brain disorders, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.
The entire PET scan process can take about two hours. It can take up to an hour for your body to absorb the injected radiotracer. During this time, you might need to sit quietly for some time and minimize your movements. The actual PET scan takes about 30 minutes. After completing the tests, you may need to wait for some time while the doctors need to review the results of the scans.
Here are some of the side effects of PET Scan, including:
- If you are pregnant or breast feeding, then you should consider not getting PET Scan, the radiation from the PET scans are harmful to the fetus and can pass to an infant in breast milk.
- Some people have an allergic reaction to the PET scan radioactive tracers or its CT scan contrast dyes.
- Studies have shown that people who have diabetes may not absorb the sugar in the radiotracer, which can affect the scan results.
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