There used to be a time when you had to get either a CT or a PET scan, but now you can do both together at the same time. This saves a lot of effort for people who are in need of these kinds of tests. Not to mention the costs of multiple appointments and the long waits, but by combining these elements together they give your doctors a much clearer picture of what is going on inside of you. These are popular, but aren’t nearly as commonplace as they should be in today’s medical field, so if you’re lucky enough to have a clinic or a hospital that can perform these two diagnostics tests together, then consider yourself a lucky person.
The Upsides Of A PET CT
By themselves, PET scans are not nearly as clear or definitive about precise locations. A good radiologist can make a well-informed opinion about the location of a positive read, and in most circumstances it should be spot on. The addition of a CT overlay allows them to pinpoint the exact location within the body and report to your physician. The leads to much easier diagnoses, as well as more conclusive evidence about whatever underlying condition may be affecting you. It also helps that with these overlays that the radiologists and doctors will not need to refer back and forth between two separate scans taken at two entirely different times.
Radioactive Glucose
You may have heard this term before about PET scans, and the idea of radioactive material entering into your system may have you a bit concerned. A lot of people have a little bit of fear when it comes to this portion of the exam, but the reality of the situation is that the radioactivity levels are minimal in the glucose, and the majority of it will be gone by the time your testing has concluded. In truth, the process is as simple as pushing in some sugar water that is marked so it can more easily read on your imaging. The latest materials have no known side-effects.
Getting a combined scan will free up your time, and allow you to spend less money on co-pays or any other additional costs you may incur. The tests are completed during the same visit, and your imaging will be more definitive than it has ever been. If this is an option open to you, then you should seriously consider taking it.
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