PET-CT of the whole body. Prices, reviews, ratings
PET-CT is currently considered one of the most complex medical examinations. However, the effectiveness of this method is quite high. It allows you to identify tumors that do not manifest themselves symptomatically. With an accuracy of several hundredths of a millimeter, you can determine the size of the focus of pathology, its localization and the processes occurring inside. Including the precise determination of the number and size of metastases.
What is PET-CT diagnostics and what is it used for?
The method itself is based on a visualization system that allows you to see all the structures of the body at the cellular level. Oncological processes in the body begin with changes in metabolism, and this occurs much earlier than tissue processes. PET-CT allows you to see how cells at the site of a future tumor begin to actively absorb glucose, which is a primary sign.
PET-CT is used to detect:
- Oncological tumors.
- The main size and characteristics of the tumor.
- Borders and localization of metastases.
- Assessment of the state of pathology and prognosis of development.
- Taking a face-to-face biopsy.
This study is used to detect tumors in any organ of the human body: lungs, liver, stomach, pancreas, prostate, mammary glands, brain, etc.
How is it performed PET-CT?
The scan takes no more than an hour. The doctor will ask the patient about medications to which he has an allergic reaction, chronic diseases, implanted metal implants. Before the procedure, you must exclude physical activity, the night before you can only eat light food, on the day of the examination you cannot eat, you can drink regular drinking water without gas.
The PET-CT procedure is absolutely painless, it involves an injection into a vein if a study with contrast is necessary. The device resembles a regular tomograph.
The patient is placed on a couch, a glucose solution is administered, asking him to relax and close his eyes. During the study, you must remain completely still.
When the device starts working, a slight noise may be heard. After a certain amount of time, which is necessary for the contrast to spread evenly throughout the body, the couch begins to move along the device's sensors, the signals from which go to the monitor. After the procedure, you need to drink a lot of fluids so that the contrast is eliminated from the body faster. Then the doctor deciphers the data obtained. This process can take quite a long time.
Indications and contraindications for PET-CT
This study is rarely prescribed to patients, unlike CT and MRI. As a rule, this method is used when other methods have failed to establish the pathology, or the picture of the disease remains unclear.
The main indications for PET-CT:
- There is a preliminary diagnosis - an oncological tumor.
- For a detailed study of the focus of pathology.
- If sarcoma (bone tumor) is suspected.
- In case of epileptic seizures.
- Vascular diseases of the brain.
- To study damage to bone tissue as a result of their trauma.
There are many contraindications to PET-CT:
- It is not performed on people in severe physical or mental condition.
- Not recommended during breastfeeding.
- After laparoscopic surgeries.
- During chemotherapy.
- Cannot be combined with radiation therapy.
There are no complications after PET-CT.
Схожі новини:
