PET Scans in North Dallas
Advanced imaging & diagnostics
Methodist Health System offers positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which is a type of imaging test to reveal how tissues and organs function. The tests reveal chemical activity in the area being examined. The images obtained from a PET scan provides different information than other diagnostic and imaging tests.
Using high-energy waves to produce 3-dimensional images of areas inside the body, PET scans are useful to identify cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders to diagnose and assess an illness. They are generally performed on the whole body and take about 2 hours. You will be given a radioactive drug called a tracer, either by receiving it through injection, or inhaling or swallowing it. During the procedure, you’ll lie on a padded table that slides into the scanner. The scanner is similar to a CT scanner, and looks like an oversized doughnut standing upright.
Why Are PET Scans Done?
Images obtained from a PET scan reveal levels of chemical activity and details about the function of each of your tissues and organs. The PET scan examines various body tissues to check for blood flow, metabolism, and oxygen use. PET scans are often combined with CT scans (PET/CT scans) for more information about metabolism changes in the body.
Your doctor may order PET scans to identify and manage various health conditions, including:
- Cancer: PET scans provide information on the structure of internal organs and tissues, but unlike many other imaging tests, PET uniquely illuminates cancer by detecting the changes in biochemistry that occur prior to the formation of a tumor mass. This additional information can help find cancer sooner than with other imaging tests. It can also help measure the effects of cancer treatments and checking if cancer treatment is working.
- Heart disease: PET scans show detailed images of decreased blood flow in the heart and determine if treatment can improve blood flow to the heart. PET scans can also determine the effects of a heart attack.
- Brain disorders: PET scans can diagnose neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease, epilepsy, and stroke.
To find a doctor or request an appointment, call (214) 947-0000 or complete this form.