Pet Scan

The MRI and CT scans are different in a number of ways. The CAT scan (Computerized axial Tomography) also known as the CT scan was invented by Sir Godfry and Robert Ledley in 1975. It was the first diagnostic tool capable of seeing inside the body and the brain. The traditional X-ray was not capable of seeing the soft tissue of the brain and body. A CT scanner emits a group of narrow beams of radiation through the human body, unlike an X-ray machine that uses just one beam of radiation. The key drawback here is the use of radiation. CT scans use radiation that can cause damage to your DNA after continued exposure. Some radiology departments still use CT scans as a preferred screening test for...

Imaging technology is a great modern method of learning what is happening inside a person 's body, but without needing to cut into the body in order to find out. MRI and ultrasound look into the body, X-rays an CAT scans look through the body, while nuclear imaging uses information that starts inside. PET stands for positron emission tomography, and is one example of a nuclear imaging technique. PET produces images by looking at radiation given off by radioactive atoms. Radioactive atoms of many elements can be made in large particle accelerators, which cause atoms to smash together at nearly the speed of light. When these radioactive atoms break apart, they emit radiation that can be easily...

Developed in 1971, computer tomography has been used by millions of people to cure complex medical conditions and diseases. Despite the fact that they are one of the most trusted and safest procedures, when it comes to CT scans, equipment is often the most important factor that decides the accuracy to which a medical professional can diagnose a problem. Coming to the procedure of CT scan equipment, it's actually a bit complicated. Alike an X-ray, wherein a little amount of ionizing radiation is used to capture a picture of the part of the body where it is radiated, scan uses different angles to take pictures. This results in a 3D model of the targeted body portion, thus giving a better idea of the...

In 2002 Robert Baird walked into a health imaging center in Salt Lake City, Utah, because of a minor concern about a family history of heart disease and he left minutes later with lifesaving information regarding non-symptomatic problems he was unaware of and had never considered.  "Two surgeries later," Baird exclaims, "I have a new lease on life."  The two most common causes of death in the United States are cardiovascular disease and cancer, accounting for nearly three out of every four deaths in America.  Every 30 seconds an American dies of heart disease while one out of two men and one out of three women will develop cancer, taking a life every 90 seconds. In less than 15 minutes a computed...

In 2002 Robert Baird walked into Accuscan Health Imaging Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, because of a minor concern about a family history of heart disease and he left minutes later with lifesaving information regarding non-symptomatic problems he was unaware of and had never considered. "Two surgeries later," Baird exclaims, "I have a new lease on life." The two most common causes of death in the United States are cardiovascular disease and cancer, accounting for nearly three out of every four deaths in America. Every 30 seconds an American dies of heart disease while one out of two men and one out of three women will develop cancer, taking a life every 90 seconds. In less than 15 minutes a...

Positron Emission Tomography, or PET, is a popular procedure performed inthe Nuclear Medicine Department. Radiation for this exam comes from the injection of a radioactive isotope. This isotope is tagged with an agent that is different for each exam, as each organ in the body will enhance differently. The imaging method measures and records the amount of radio isotope within the living tissue. Basically, PET scans supply information regarding the function of organs and tissues. PET technology is a vital tool in the staging and monitoring of cancer patients. It gives Oncologists and Radiologists very important information on the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Today...

With advances in science and medical technology, doctors now have more tools at their disposal for detecting and diagnosing cancer of various types than ever before. While many have heard of MRIs, CAT scans, and x-rays, the PET Scan is a very useful tool that actually shows more detail than the other diagnostic tools. Positron emission tomography, or PET, is a form of nuclear medicine imaging. The technique produces a three-dimensional, or 3D, image or picture of the functional processes in the body. The PET system detects pairs of gamma rays that are emitted indirectly by a positron-emitting radionuclide, or tracer, which is introduced into the body just before the test. The images developed by the...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is traditionally used in the diagnostic and staging parts of a patient's treatment pathway. More recently however, it has also been used to help determine the planning target volume (PTV). In many CNS patients their diagnostic MRI scan is fused with their radiotherapy planning CT scan. (REF) The oncologist is then able to outline the Tumour mass on the MRI as a GTV, which can then be superimposed on the planning CT scan, to check the area for treatment and the margins to be used. This fusion of images, is advantages for two reasons. Firstly the MRI image shows far greater resolution in soft tissue, than the CT, and secondly because the CT scan is carried out post...