What is PET...

"PET" stands for Positron Emission Tomography. This technique allows us to measure organ function while the patient is comfortable, conscious and alert. A better name would be ART as we really are performing Annihilation Radiation Tomography, and not positron emission tomography. 

PET represents a new step forward in evaluating function of internal organs and in diagnosing malignant tumors. Unlike X-rays or a CT scan, which show only structural details within the body, PET excels at determining organ function.

We are very interested in organ function because functional change, such as tissue metabolism or altered physiologic function physiologic function, often predates structural change in tissues.

In oncology, PET is the only modality that can accurately image many organs of the body with a single pass to allow determination of malignancy.

PET helps determine whether a primary cancer has metastasized to other parts of the body.