How is it performed? of PET scan

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In PET, a very small amount of a radioactive drug is given to a patient usually through an injection in the arm. The radioactive drug will go to certain active parts of the body depending on which particular drug is used.

For example, fluorodeoxyglucose, also called FDG, is a radioactive version of the sugar glucose. Once injected into the body, it will go to places where glucose is used for energy, and the appropriate areas can be monitored whilst breaking down the glucose to detect any abnormalities or improvements in function. Other radioactive drugs specific to other functions can also be used.

After being injected with the radioactive drug, the patient lies on the scanner bed and must remain as still as possible. The procedure is likely to take at least one hour, depending on which part of the body is being scanned.

The scanner has thousands of small detectors that measure the radiation released by the radioactive drug within the patient. In this way, the PET scanner can make 3D images that show where the radioactive drug was used in the body.

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