There are several types of imaging that are available. Our Center is committed to making the most accurate, most comfortable, and safest imaging services. Some imaging involves no exposure to radiation, while others expose patients to very small amounts.
No exposure to radiation
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Very small amount of radiation exposure
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In cases where molecular imaging is the preferred modality, we offer the safest type found anywhere.
Molecular or nuclear medical imaging is sometimes called an “inside out X-ray” because it records radiation coming from a radioactive agent within the body. The radiation agent is a type of drug called radiopharmaceuticals. These are chemical compounds composed of a radiotracer (a man-made isotope with a low dose of radiation that is short-lived due to rapid decay) bonded with a biologically active molecule that is attracted to a specific kind of tissue, so the choice of radiotracer will depend on which part or system is to be scanned. When administered, the radiotracer travels with the blood flow until it reaches the target tissue where it is taken up and collects. Then the patient is scanned with special equipment that registers the emissions and transforms them into images. It is noninvasive and painless. After the scan, the radiotracer will be naturally eliminated from the body. The results of the imaging are interpreted by our expert readers who create a report for the patient’s doctor.
PET/CT SCANS
PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Positrons are subatomic particles with a positive charge. Positrons administered as a radiotracer indirectly emit tiny amounts of radiation. Sophisticated computer software constructs 3-dimensional (3D) images of the region of interest, revealing functional details about the tissue where the tracer has concentrated. The Sperling Diagnostic Group uses PET/CT scans for:
- Diagnostic information to locate cancer or other diseased tissue that may require treatment
- Planning treatment based on the imaging results
- Monitoring the success of treatment
- Detecting recurrence if cancer has come back or spread.
