Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
What is a PET scan?
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a remarkable non-invasive diagnostic tool that gives your doctor the ability to visualize how organs and structures in the body are functioning. Because PET can measure the biological and metabolic changes associated with disease, it is extremely useful in the detection and staging of cancer, in localizing the origin of epileptic seizures, in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, and in evaluating heart disease.
​
A PET scan is an imaging technique that anatomically detects subtle changes in the body's metabolism and chemical activities. A simple radioisotope injection into the blood stream provides a color-coded digital image of the body's function.
​
Like MRI and CT, PET is a painless procedure. But, while the other procedures indicate the look and location of specific structures and potential irregularities, PET utilizes your body's chemical (physiologic) processes and allows your doctor to actually see problems before they become apparent on other studies. Since cancer cells have a faster metabolism than normal cells, PET can tell whether an area is benign or malignant without surgery, how a disease has progressed, and whether or not treatments are working.
​
Once your scan is completed, our technologists will send the images to our Board Certified Radiologist who will review and interpret your scan. A written report of the results will be sent to your referring doctor within 48 hours. In most cases, your physician will have your results in 24 hours.
​
***Offered at the Oklahoma City location.
​