Positron Emission Tomography
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Test Overview
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a test that uses a special type of camera and a special test medicine (radioactive tracer) to look at organs in the body.
During the test, the tracer is put into a vein (IV) in your arm. The tracer gives off tiny positively charged particles (positrons) that make signals. A camera records the tracer's signals as the tracer moves through the body and collects in organs. The camera's recordings are made into pictures on a computer.
PET scan pictures do not show as much detail as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
A PET scan is often used to find cancer, to check blood flow, or to see how organs are working.
See an illustration of a PET scanner 
and PET scans of the brain .
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| Last updated: | January 10, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology, Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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