What is Positron Emission Tomography?
How does PET work?
Positron Emission Tomography, or PET for short, is a very specialised type of scan in which the picture is produced by detecting low doses of radioactivity. You will have a small injection of a radioactive substance. The injection enables the PET scanner to produce a picture which reveals important information and will assist the research team to learn more.
PET can be used to study how the body functions and how diseases develop and progress. PET can help diagnose cancer and investigate brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and depression. This information can help the development of new drugs and other treatment methods such as radiotherapy.
There are a small number of PET scanners dedicated specifically to research in the world. WMIC has two state-of-the-art clinical PET scanners which we hope will give unique information about cancer and neurological disease.
What's the difference between PET and other types of scan such as CT or MRI?
PET is a way of imaging how the body is functioning; this is different to CT and MRI, which are used to visualise the structure of the body. In some cases, PET can identify abnormal activity before it is visible on CT or MRI. When used in conjunction with CT and MRI, PET can provide an even more valuable picture of the body.
How much radiation is a particpant exposed to during the procedure?
The amount of radiation received from a PET scan depends on the type of scan being carried out. There are strict regulations regarding the amount of radiation people participating in research projects can be exposed to. The radiation disappears very quickly.
Before the scan
There are many different types of PET scans so the particular requirements of any study may vary. Please note:
- Any special instructions will be given to you by the study doctor, or nurse, who is looking after you.
- You may be asked to refrain from food and drink for a while before the scan. You will be told if you need to bring anything with you, and if you need to do anything after the scan.
- If you suffer from a diabetic condition or have any allergies, be sure to tell the doctor who is arranging your scan.
The day of your scan
The requirements of every research study are different, so it's essential that you read the information sheet provided detailing everything that will be undertaken in the course of your visits to the Centre.
For certain studies, you may be required not to eat or drink anything (other than water) for up to six hours before your scan. This is to enable us to better assess the scan without interference.
Some studies will ask you not to drive to the Centre as it may be inadvisable to drive yourself home on completion. If this is likely to be the case then we can arrange taxis for you.
If you have any concerns or questions, please call the contact number provided on your information sheet.
After your scan
After the scan you will be given plenty of time to relax, plus something to eat and drink if desired. We will arrange for travel if needed.
You will be informed by the study doctor or nurse of any recommendations that need to be followed for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to see the scan images on the day as it takes several hours to reconstruct the images.
