A positron emission tomography (PET) scan allows doctors to check for diseases inside your body. The scan requires the use of a unique dye that has radioactive tracers. You may be asked to swallow the tracer, inhale the tracer, or have the tracer injected directly into your vein. The treatment used will vary based on the body part that is being examined. Depending on how the dye is introduced into your body, certain tissues and organs will absorb the tracer. The type of scan being done can impact the cost. For example, a cardiac PET scan cost may be different than one used for examining other parts of the body.
The PET scan will detect the tracers your doctor introduced into your body. This makes it possible for your doctor to evaluate how well your tissues and organs are working. The tracers will group together in areas that have higher chemical activity. This is beneficial because certain tissues in the body and certain diseases create a higher level of unique chemical activities. This causes areas of disease to appear as a bright spot on a PET scan.
In most cases, a PET scan is an outpatient procedure. Because of the complications involved, a cardiac PET scan cost may be slightly elevated when compared to other PET scans. However, because of their outpatient nature, you are typically able to return home once the scans are finished.
Learn more about PET scans and see how Cardiac Imaging Inc. is setting the industry standard for detecting heart disease with PET scans by visiting their website today.
