Technology has taken over the medical diagnosis and made it easy, affordable and fast for common people. Today medical science heavily relies on the technological equipments for the diagnosis of various disease and abnormalities.
Technology has taken over the medical diagnosis and made it easy, affordable and fast for common people. Today medical science heavily relies on the technological equipments for the diagnosis of various disease and abnormalities. One of the most technological advancement is detection of cancer through these machines and PET CT is renowned name in this field. PET CT is modern and most advanced and evolved tool used for the detection of abnormalities like cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders etc. PET CT (Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography) uses technological advancement for detection of abnormalities. Whole body PET CT is one of the famous tests in PET CT procedure because it has the advantage of detecting cancer in any part of the body or spread on one cancer to any other part of the body. This helps to rule out any suspection of cancer spread to other parts of body. This test gives whole body analysis and its abnormal conditioning that is present in any part of body.
Purpose of Whole Body PET CT
The whole body PET CT scan is performed for a variety of medical purposes. Some of the key reasons include:
- Cancer Detection and Staging
- Identifies tumors in any part of the body.
- Whole body PET CT helps to detect or localize the spread of cancer in any part of body.
- PET CT helps in staging of cancer, which is helpful in treatment options..
- Whole body PET CT helps in Treatment Monitoring
- Whole body PET CT is helpful in detecting how body responds to a particular treatment given to cancer condition like chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc.
- Distinguishes between active disease and scar tissue after treatment.
- Recurrence Detection
- Detects if cancer has returned, often earlier than conventional scans.
- Neurological Applications
- Useful for conditions like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Helps in localizing abnormal brain activity.
- Cardiac Applications
- Assesses blood flow and viability of the heart muscle.
- Useful in planning heart surgeries or interventions.
- General Health Evaluation
- Sometimes used in preventive health check-ups for high-risk individuals.
- Provides a full metabolic and structural map of the body.
Whole Body PET CT Benefits
The advantages of undergoing a whole body PET CT scan are numerous. These benefits make it one of the most preferred imaging methods for critical health conditions.
1. PET CT whole body helps in Disease Detection at Early Stages
- PET CT helps to detect abnormalities at cellular level through metabolic activity. This helps to look for condition before even having visible symptoms.
- Whole body PET CT helps healthcare expert to initiate the early treatment which help in recovery and more chances of effective treatment.
2. PET CT helps in Comprehensive Imaging
- Covers the entire body in a single scan.
- Provides a full picture of both the structure and function of organs.
3. PET CT helps in Cancer Management
- PET CT helps to identify the tumors early and even small tumors can be detected in earliest of stages.
- PET CT whole body helps to determine whether to cancer is spread or not.
- PET CT whole body helps doctor to choose right approach for the condition.
4. PET CT helps in Monitoring Effectiveness of Cancer Treatment
- PET CT helps to show whether the particular therapy is working or not.
- PET CT whole body also helps to avoid any type of unnecessary treatment and medications that cannot be effective.
5. Detection of Recurrence
- Highly sensitive in identifying cancer recurrence.
- PET CT helps to detect any sign of metabolic changes in cells which can indicate the degree of condition.
6. Shorter Scan Time
- A whole-body scan usually takes less than an hour.
- PET CT whole body is faster comparing to conventional imaging tests.
7. PET CT is more Accurate comparing other tests
- PET CT whole body shows detailed structure of functions of body cells comparing CT which only show structure.
- Combining them ensures high accuracy and reduces false results.
8. Useful in Heart Diseases
- Helps assess blood flow to the heart muscles.
- PET CT helps in visualization of tissues before going for any type of surgery.
9. Helps in Personalized Treatment
- Every patient’s disease behaves differently; PET CT helps doctors design tailor-made treatment strategies.
Procedure of Whole Body PET CT
The process is simple and patient-friendly.
- Preparation
- Patients usually fast for 4–6 hours.
- Water is allowed but no food or sugary drinks.
- Diabetic patients receive special instructions.
- Injection of Tracer
- PET CT is initiated by injecting radioactive tracer like FDG in the body.
- Abnormal cells affected with cancer absorb more radioactive tracer comparing normal cells.
- Waiting Period
- After radioactive tracer, patient is advised to rest for about 60 minutes till tracer moves throughout the whole body.
- Scanning
- The patient lies on a table that moves through the scanner.
- CT images are taken first, followed by PET imaging.
- The entire process usually takes 20–30 minutes of actual scanning.
- After the Scan
- Patients can resume normal activities.
- Drinking plenty of fluids helps flush out the tracer.
Limitations of Whole Body PET CT
While PET CT is highly effective, there are some limitations to consider:
- PET CT is associated with exposure of radiation throughout the body.
- PET CT whole body is not suitable and preferred for pregnant women.
- The cost of PET CT whole body is high comparing other conventional tests
- Sometimes PET CT gives false positive which can lead to unnecessary treatment of the structure.
- PET CT is not available in the rural areas and are present only in urban towns.
What is the Cost of Whole Body PET CT in Delhi NCR
The cost of Whole body PET CT in Delhi NCR varies depending on various factors like location, availability, type of PET CT and various other factors. The Cost of whole body PET CT usually ranges between Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 30,000 in Delhi NCR.
Whole body PET CT scan and other Scans available
- Whole Body PET Scan (Book Now)
- F-18 Choline PET Scan (Book Now)
- FDG-PET Scan (Book Now)
- Brain PET Scan (Book Now)
Click Here to look for more types of PET CT
Conclusion
Whole body PET CT is effective and preferred tool for the detection of cancer in any part of the body. The test is also very effective in determining the spread of cancer condition to other parts of the body. There are various conventional tests but the advantage of whole body PET CT to detect the cancer at metabolic stages makes it different and effective than conventional tests. There are various benefits of whole body PET CT like accuracy, fast, help in treatment, effect of treatment etc. Patient can visit any recognized center for the test and book the test.
