Diagnosing Mesothelioma: PET Scans
Medical imaging scans such as MRI, CT, and PET scans are used during for mesothelioma diagnosis and other asbestos cancers to determine where cancer is located in the body, and whether it has spread to other locations. Often these tests are also used to determine how effective a particular course of treatment is.
This type of scan makes use of the metabolic processes of cells to create highly detailed images of the inside of the body. Prior to a PET scan, the person undergoing the test is injected intravenously with a solution of radioactive glucose. During the test, their body is scanned using equipment that can detect the presence of the radioactive glucose.
This works because malignant cancer cells take up and use glucose more quickly than normal healthy cells do. Once the scan images have been generated, areas of tissue that have taken up large amounts of glucose (and therefore contain cancer cells) can be easily distinguished from other areas of tissue (that are healthy).
PET scans are particularly useful diagnostic and prognostic tools because they show the location of cancer cells within the body in three dimensions, with more accuracy and finer detail than other tests.
CT-PET Scans
A PET scan is sometimes carried out at the same time as a CT scan, to give more detailed and useful results. This is particularly useful during diagnosis for mesothelioma, as the combination of a CT and PET scan gives fast, detailed results that accurately reflect the stage of the cancer. This in turn is very useful information that doctors use to determine best treatment for each individual.
Knowing the exact location, size, and spread of tumors is vital information for cancer doctors, because it is needed to be able to formulate a treatment plan that will be as effective as possible. With mesothelioma an aggressive cancer that is highly resistant to treatment, this is particularly important.
During treatment, the CT-PET combination can give the same quick and highly accurate results that specialists need to ensure that people receive the best treatment at every stage of their disease. For example, when a combination CT-PET scan is used following chemotherapy, it can give a detailed picture of how the cancer is responding to the treatment, much earlier and more accurately than other types of medical imaging tests.
Your Test Results
Test results for these scans are usually available within a few days. The scan images are interpreted by doctors who are trained to interpret the images, and their findings are then reported to your doctor. You can learn about the results, and what they mean for your treatment and prognosis, from them.
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