CT/Pet Scan

CT/Pet Scan Q & A

What are CT scans and PET scans?

CT (computerized tomography) scans and PET (positron emission tomography) scans are two types of imaging tests that Chiefland Health Center can perform to get a better idea of what may be going on inside your body. 

CT scans

CT scans, also known as CAT scans, capture cross-sectional images of the body using rotating X-ray machines and computers. They help your team diagnose diseases and assess injuries. Using CT scans, they can, among other things:

• Determine the location of a tumor or mass
• Study your blood vessels
• Diagnose infections, muscle disorders, and bone fractures
• Monitor the progress of a treatment or medicine
  
  

Sometimes doctors administer or instruct you to consume a contrast material before your CT scan. Contrast materials help your internal structures show up more clearly on X-rays.

CT scans show more than a regular X-ray, instead revealing blood vessels, soft tissues, and bone. If they so desire, your team instructs the computer to stitch these images together to create a 3D image.

PET scans

PET scans use a special dye that contains radioactive tracers to observe organ and tissue function. Depending on what part of the body the team at Chiefland Health Center is scanning, you may swallow, inhale, or inject the dye into your body.

How do PET scans work?

After your body absorbs the tracer dye, a PET scanner rotates around your body, taking pictures of your organs and tissues.

Where there is more chemical activity in the organs and/or tissues, the dye congregates. On your scan, this gathering shows up as a bright spot. Bright spots indicate areas of the body that may be suffering with disease.

PET scans allow your doctors to view diseases and changes in your body at a cellular level. Most often, Chiefland Health Center uses PET scans to look for the presence or observe the progression of issues such as:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Brain disorders
• Central nervous system disorders
  
  

PET scans can also be used to measure oxygen use, measure blood flow, and see how your body uses sugar.

Are CT scans and PET scans safe?

CT scans and PET scans both use a tiny amount of radioactive material. Fortunately, the exposure levels associated with these scans are so low that they pose little risk to your body. 

Though rare, it’s possible to have an allergic reaction to tracer dye during a PET scan or contrast material during a CT scan.

If you need a CT or PET scan, trust your care to the skilled team at Chiefland Health Center. To learn more or to schedule a consultation, contact the practice online or over the phone today.