A PET scan allows physicians to measure the body's abnormal molecular cell activity to detect Cancer (such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, lymphoma, melanoma and other skin cancers, Brain Disorders (such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and epilepsy), and Heart Disease (such as coronary artery disease).

PET scans are simple, painless, and quick, offering patients and their families life-saving information that helps physicians detect and diagnose diseases early and quickly begin treatment. PET scanning and molecular imaging provide real life answers to better diagnose illness, guide treatment options, and give patients ultimate control over their critical, life-saving health care decisions.

Combined PET/CT scanning joins two imaging tests, Computerized Axial Tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET), into one procedure. A PET scan creates colored pictures of chemical changes (metabolic activity) in tissues. Because cancerous tumors usually are more active than normal tissue, they appear different on a PET scan.

What PET/CT sees >