Application of PET/CT examinations
- detection and assessment of the malignancy of cancerous tumors based on their metabolic activity and the degree of radiotracer accumulation,
- imaging of head and neck tumors,
- diagnosis of lung diseases, including lung tumors and their metastases,
- epigastric tumors showing increased glucose metabolism,
- detection of tumors in the lower abdomen, including: liver – hepatocellular carcinoma, bile ducts, liver metastases,
- bile duct tumors – cancer of the gallbladder, bile ducts,
- pancreatic cancers,
- stomach, small intestine and others – stomach cancers, gastrointestinal stromal tumors,
- large intestine – glucose metabolism is increased in most colorectal cancers,
- urinary system – diagnosis of prostate cancer,
- diagnostics, staging and assessment of recurrence of gynecological cancers in women in the pelvic area: ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer,
- cancers of the musculoskeletal system: assessment of the stage of the disease, diagnosis of metastases/recurrences, assessment of response to treatment,
- malignant melanoma – the examination enables the detection of metastases (usually subcutaneous, to the bones, liver and brain), due to the metabolic assessment of changes, it is also used to assess the effectiveness of chemotherapy,
- lymphomas and other haematological diseases – assessment of the stage of the disease, recurrence, selection of the appropriate method of treatment and assessment of response to treatment,
- searching for the primary tumor focus,
- inflammatory diseases such as sarcoidosis, inflammation of large vessels, localization of inflammatory foci,
- assessment of myocardial viability.
Contraindications for PET/CT examination and special precautions
- pregnancy, therefore, patients of childbearing age (i.e. from the first menstruation to a year after the last menstruation) are asked to perform a pregnancy test (available at the pharmacy) 1 day before the examination and to show the result of the examination in the lab on the day of the examination. It is also necessary to sign a statement that the patient applying for the examination is not pregnant. In the case of breast-feeding, it is advisable to stop breastfeeding for 24 hours after administration of the radiotracer.
