PET/CT

Reliable – and at the same time as gentle as possible for the patient – diagnoses are the goal of the combination of PET (positron emission tomography) and CT (computer tomography). As with scintigraphy, a radioactive substance is injected and its distribution in the body is recorded with a special camera. By linking these images with anatomical scans of the computer tomography, extremely precise information is obtained for meaningful findings.

CT

PET/CT

FAQ's

The following examinations are performed at the Radiology Center:

  • 18F-FDG: This uses a radioactively labeled sugar solution, which makes it possible to visualize the energy requirements of tumors, for example, but also brain metabolism.
  • Oncology: PET in combination with CT as PET/CT (imaging of tumor activity); for diagnosis, “staging” and monitoring of therapy response in many tumors.
  • Neurology: metabolic function of the brain, dementia diagnostics.

You will find a detailed description of the procedure on our PET/CT pages.

These examinations have to be paid privately and can be submitted to a supplementary insurance/private insurance.

The combination of PET and CT (PET/CT) combines the metabolic-functional imaging capabilities of positron emission tomography with the anatomic-morphologic imaging in computed tomography. Therefore, this method is particularly useful in the care of oncology patients for assessing the extent of disease before initiating therapy.

This is especially true when it comes to determining whether and at what point a surgical intervention can improve the chances of recovery. In addition, the combined procedure documents – during and after treatment – the status of the response to cancer therapy.

No, you do not need authorization from the chief physician for an examination.

No, if you feel a lump in your breast, you come directly to us. Otherwise, however, we require a physician’s referral to perform the proper examination.

The PET/CT (Positron Emission Tomography) does not differ in principle from the other nuclear medicine procedures (The scintigraphy, SPECT). Here, too, the patient receives a radioactive substance (radiopharmaceutical) and is examined with the PET scanner after a certain enrichment phase. The special feature of PET results from the decay type of the radioisotopes used, the so-called “positron emitters”: these have particularly favorable physical properties for measurement and imaging, which is why they achieve a higher spatial resolution compared to the other nuclear medicine procedures, which means that even very small lesions in the organism can be detected.

The most commonly used PET radiopharmaceutical is FDG (18FluorDesoxyGlucose). FDG is used to examine glucose metabolism, which can be elevated in tumor diseases or inflammation, for example. In FDG-PET examinations of the brain, areas with a reduced glucose metabolism are of particular interest, e.g. in the context of epilepsy and dementia diagnostics.

Apart from this, there are other radiopharmaceuticals by which very specific targets in the body can be detected and imaged. Due to the necessary special delivery and short life of the PET radiopharmaceuticals used, it is important to make an appointment in time and to keep the appointment on time.

In computed tomography (CT), many X-ray images of an object are taken from different directions; so-called “cross-sectional images” are subsequently reconstructed from the acquired volume using these images. Computed tomography is used only in exact compliance with radiation protection and when the examination is clinically necessary.

Sometimes the use of contrast medium (iodine) is required for differentiation between individual structures and between healthy and diseased tissue. Adverse side effects are (extremely) rare.

In oncology, the part of diagnostics that is helpful in determining the degree of spread of a malignant tumor is called staging. It is also the basis for deciding which therapy is suitable for each individual patient.

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