Diagnosis Of Lung Cancer Through A Pet Scan
The earliest stages of lung cancer can be diagnosed through a PET scan. This type of test is used to diagnose varieties of cancer, including lung cancer.
The Positron Emission Tomography or PET is a medical imaging scheme. This device has the capability to differentiate between a malignant or benign tumor. When a doctor performs this type of test you will be required to lie flat on a surface similar to a bed. The bed will move back and forth through the tunnel. As this occurs the technician will be taking pictures of your body.
It will be required for the technician to inject a dye into your veins called radiopharmaceutical. This means you will need an IV started prior to the launch of the test. The tissues in your body will possess the dye. If you have cancerous cells in your body these cells will absorb the dye significantly more.
When the x-rays are returned from a PET scan to determine lung cancer, the rays create electrical signals which will show cancerous tissues predominantly with the absorption of the dye. The reason for this is because cancer is active and lung cancer will appear in the lungs or in the lymph nodes surrounding the lungs if you have cancer.
An early diagnosis of lung cancer is well-known. A patient has a better chance of survival the earlier the lung cancer is found. The importance is that you hope the cancer is still just a tumor and has not spread. If this is the case, surgery can remove the tumor and the doctor will most likely follow up with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy comes in a pill form that you will occupy orally.
A PET scan is a better test to show cancer in earlier stages rather than a CT or an MRI. This is because a PET scan has the ability to show metabolic changes which occur inside of the body. A doctor will be able to sight the exact stage of the lung cancer and the progression of the disease. This type of scan can also do an entire scan of the body in just one exam. This will allow a doctor to determine if there is any form of cancer anywhere else in the body also.
Throughout treatment of lung cancer a PET scan is the best option for a doctor to use also. This type of scan will relieve the doctors settle the effectiveness of the treatment and surgery. The doctor will be able to see if the cancer really is completely gone or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. A PET scan is the only device that will present new growths of cancer right away, which will allow the new growths to be treated immediately.
A PET scan for a lung cancer diagnosis is the best test your doctor can consume to make a proper diagnosis. Patients have been misdiagnosed through other exams such as the CT or MRI because these two tests do not sight cancer growth in the early stages.
Related posts
Filed under Malignant Mesothelioma by on Oct 24th, 2011. 