What is positron emission tomography?
Positron emission tomography is a so-called imaging examination from nuclear medicine. It can be used to visualize metabolic processes in various regions of the body. This is done using radioactive markers that are administered to the patient, for example via an injection.
When do you perform positron emission tomography?
- Lung and bronchial carcinoma
- Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, gastric carcinoma or esophageal carcinoma)
- Gynaecological cancers (breast, ovarian, cervical and others)
- Thyroid cancer
- Lymph gland cancer
- Skin cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Brain tumors
Where else is positron emission tomography used?
What do you do during positron emission tomography?
Combination PET/CT: What is it?
The so-called PET/CT is an examination procedure in which positron emission tomography is combined with computer tomography. The patient does not have to undergo two different examinations in succession, as the imaging device measures the radioactive markers of the PET and simultaneously produces CT images of the body.
What are the risks of positron emission tomography?
The combined PET/CT examinations entail a higher radiation exposure, as the patient is exposed to both the radiation of the PET and the computed tomography. Therefore, this examination is performed only after careful consideration.
Can positron emission tomography be performed during pregnancy?
The same applies to breastfeeding, because the radioactive marker passes into the mother’s milk. If a breastfeeding patient does have to undergo positron emission tomography, the doctor will explain to her at what point after the examination she may resume breastfeeding.
