![\"CT](\"https:\/\/www.healthimages.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/CT-Scan-Vs-PET-Scan.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Millions of Americans undergo imaging tests every year to help doctors diagnose a health condition. For example, according to Harvard Medical School,\u00a0over 80 million CT scans<\/a>\u00a0are performed each year. Imaging procedures provide a window to the interior human body without the need for an incision. This helps keep patients out of the operating room and saves them the risks and costs of surgery. Imaging tests also help doctors make quick decisions so they can treat patients right away.<\/p>\n The purpose of most imaging tests is to help doctors detect or monitor an injury or disease. Two commonly ordered tests are CT scans and PET scans, but they are not the same. We’ll explore how these tests work, why they’re used, and the similarities and differences between PET and CT Scans.<\/p>\n Jump to Sections:<\/strong><\/p>\n A computed tomography (CT) scan is a special type of imaging procedure. A\u00a0CT scan<\/a>\u00a0produces a detailed 3-D image of the inside of your body. This type of scan is often prescribed to check for abnormalities in the brain, spine, neck, chest or abdomen. By looking at CT scan images, your doctor can evaluate hard tissues, such as your bones, and soft tissues, such as your muscles and organs. This means a CT scan will show everything from a bone fracture to a tumor.<\/p>\n CT scans are common procedures in hospitals and imaging centers because they allow doctors to make critical medical decisions fast. They are especially helpful tools to check for life-threatening conditions quickly. For example, patients who were in a car accident may undergo a CT scan after they’re taken to a hospital. This allows a doctor to check for organ injuries, bone fractures and internal bleeding.<\/p>\n You might think of a CT scan as a much more detailed x-ray. A CT scan machine uses multiple x-ray beams to capture images of the body from different angles. This information translates to cross-sectional pictures, or “slices,” on a computer monitor.<\/p>\n To undergo the procedure, a patient will usually lie flat on an exam table. The table will then move through the CT scan machine as it takes images. The scanning process usually takes a few minutes. Some patients may need to ingest a contrast material before the scan, either by drinking the substance or receiving it intravenously. The contrast is a dye that highlights the areas being examined so doctors can see them more clearly.<\/p>\n Although CT scans are a simple, painless procedure, technologists aim to perform the scan quickly. At\u00a0Health Images<\/a>, we use the latest CT scan technology to get patients in and out of the exam room as quickly and comfortably as possible.<\/p>\n A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a form\u00a0of nuclear medicine imaging<\/a>. A PET scan uses a tiny amount of radioactive material called a radiotracer, a camera and a computer to create images of the inside of your body. A PET scan shows a doctor how your tissues and organs work.<\/p>\n PET scans are most\u00a0commonly used to detect or monitor cancer<\/a>. Doctors might also use a PET scan to assess heart and brain functioning.<\/p>\n During a PET scan procedure, a technologist will inject a small amount of the radioactive tracer into a patient’s vein, usually on the inside of an elbow. After the injection, the tracer will move through the body and gather in tissues and organs. A patient will need to wait for about an hour for their body to absorb the tracer. Tracers will collect in tumors, inflamed areas or cancer cells for doctors to see.<\/p>\n After the tracer is absorbed, the patient will move to an exam table that slides into a scanner. The PET scanner will detect the tracer and turn the data into 3-D images on a computer monitor. Some imaging centers combine PET scans with CT scans to create specialized images.<\/p>\n PET scans and CT scans are both critical diagnostic tools that provide clear, accurate views into the body. Although they share many similarities, they are also both very different types of imaging. Let’s look at how the two compare.<\/p>\n Perhaps the main difference between a CT scan and a PET scan is their focus. A CT scan creates a detailed non-moving image of organs, bones and tissues. A PET scan, on the other hand, shows doctors how the tissues in your body work on a cellular level. Other differences include:<\/p>\n CT scans and PET scans focus on different aspects of the human body and use unique materials to do so, but they still share a lot in common. Similarities between CT scans and PET scans include:<\/p>\n Most importantly, both types of imaging tests help doctors diagnose the cause of a patient’s symptoms. This allows doctors to effectively treat their patients and help them enjoy healthy lives.<\/p>\n Whether your doctor has ordered a CT scan or a PET scan, you may feel a little anxious about the procedure. Any medical imaging exam can cause worrisome feelings before and after the test. At Health Images, our team of dedicated, compassionate technologists want to make the experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible.<\/p>\n We have the latest technology and technologists who care, so you can depend on us to meet your imaging needs. To learn more about our services or schedule an appointment,\u00a0contact a Health Images center<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n\n
What Is a CT Scan?<\/h2>\n
How Does a CT Scan Work?<\/h2>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.healthimages.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/How-Does-a-CT-Scan-Work.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat Is a PET Scan?<\/h2>\n
How Does a PET Scan Work?<\/h2>\n
PET Scan Compared to a CT Scan<\/h2>\n
![\"CT](\"https:\/\/www.healthimages.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/MG-CT-Scan-vs-PET-Scan.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat Is the Difference Between a CT and PET Scan?<\/h3>\n
\n
![\"Difference](\"https:\/\/www.healthimages.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/Difference-Between-a-CT-and-PET-Scan.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow Are PET and CT Scans Similar?<\/b><\/h3>\n
\n
Schedule Your Appointment Today<\/h2>\n