PET CT Scan for Pancreatic Cancer

In this article, we will discuss about PET-CT as a diagnostic tool for Pancreatic cancer and also some common questions related to PET-CT.

Pancreatic cancer is the rare form of cancer that accounts around 3% of all cancers. This cancer is dangerous because the symptoms are visible at the later stage which makes the cancer fatal. In this situation PET-CT scan becomes an important tool for the detection of pancreatic cancers. PET-CT (positron emission tomography-computed tomography) is an effective tool for the detection of pancreatic cancers. The scanning tool produces 3D images, which helps in easy and early detection of cancers by using various types of radioactive tracers like FDG.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreas is a vital organ in our body which produces various hormones and digestive juices in the intestine. Pancreas plays a vital role in regulating the blood sugar by secreting the insulin hormone. Any abnormality or cancer in the pancreas can affect its functioning and also creates digestive and blood sugar issues in the body. Pancreatic cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells, which creates tumours and these tumours, effects the functioning of the pancreas. Early detection of the pancreatic cancer is important for effective treatment and control the spread. This is where PET-CT plays an important role in detection and controlling of this cancer.

What are the causes of pancreatic cancer?

There are various causes of pancreatic cancer like long standing of type 2 diabetes, genetic mutations, smoking, overweight or obesity, exposure to pesticides or chemicals, pancreatitis, older age etc. are some of the causes of pancreatic cancer. Person with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes disease are prone for the pancreatic cancer. Genetic mutations due to exposure to chemicals or hereditary genes from the family are also one of the causes of pancreatic cancer. Diseases like pancreatitis can also lead to the condition of pancreatic cancer.

Which types of Pancreatic Cancers are detected by PET-CT Scan?

PET-CT (positron emission tomography -computed tomography) can detect various types of pancreatic cancers. These cancers include:

Adenocarcinoma
Acinar cell cancer
Cystic tumours
Neuroendocrine tumours

What is the procedure for PET-CT scan to detect Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer can be detected at the early stage through PET-CT scan and help us to protect from the fetal condition. In this procedure patient is given radioactive tracer through IV and allowed to wait for 1 hour. During this time patient is advised not to do any exercise or work, which can alter the result. The common radioactive tracer used is FDG glucose, which gets absorbed by cells as per their metabolic activity. This activity is monitored when the patient is taken into the scanner. The scanner produces 3D images of the condition which helps in easy and early detection of abnormality.

What does PET-CT Scan shows in Pancreas?

PET-CT scans produce the 3D images of the pancreas and other associated tissues. This helps in the detection of abnormalities in the Pancreatic like:

Changes at the cellular level
To detect the metabolic activity of pancreatic cells.
Helps to reveal the functioning of the pancreas.
Provides images of the pancreas for the specific evaluation.
Helps to detect the abnormalities in the pancreas.

What are the Different types of PET-CT Scans available at Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre other than Pancreatic Scan?

Here is the list of PET-CT scans available at Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre other than pancreatic scan.

Brain PET scan (Book Now)
F-18 Choline PET Scan (Book Now)
FDG-PET Scan (Book Now)
DOTA PET CT Scan (Book Now)
Whole Body PET Scan (Book Now)
PSMA PET Scan For Prostate (Book Now)
Dopa Brain PET Scan (Book Now)
PET Viability Scan Cardiac (Book Now)
Cardiac PET Scan (Book Now)

Conclusion

Pancreatic cancer is the rare form of cancer that accounts around 3% of all cancers. This cancer is dangerous because the symptoms are visible at the later stage which makes the cancer fatal. Pancreas is a vital organ in our body which produces various hormones and digestive juices in the intestine. Pancreas plays a vital role in regulating the blood sugar by secreting the insulin hormone. Any abnormality or cancer in the pancreas can affect its functioning and also creates digestive and blood sugar issues in the body. PET-CT plays an important role in detection of pancreatic cancer at early stage of the disease. Early detection helps in disease management, targeted drug therapy and fast recovery from the condition. This procedure uses radioactive tracer for the detection of cancer and most common radioactive tracer used in FDG glucose.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer is the abnormal growth of pancreatic cells, which forms tumours. This is the rare form of cancer and accounts around 3% of all cancers.