Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

ECT (Emission Computed Tomography), PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan

What To Think About

• The radioactive tracer may be passed to a baby through breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breast-feeding and need to have a PET scan.
• PET scans are expensive and not yet widely available.
• A CT scan and PET scan may be done at the same time.
• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is a method that may be used to see whether a person with chest pain is at high risk for a heart attack. SPECT imaging also may be done with cardiac stress testing to check for coronary artery disease (CAD) or to choose the best treatment for it.¹
• You may not be able to have a PET scan if you have recently had surgery, a biopsy, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: September 11, 2007
Medical Review:	Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology
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