Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
The PET scan is a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool because it reveals the location of cancer cells in three dimensions, with more accuracy and finer detail than some of the other tests. PET scans employ the metabolic processes of cells to make highly detailed images of the inside of the body. Prior to a PET scan, the patient receives an intravenous injection of a solution of radioactive glucose. The patient’s body is then scanned with equipment that can detect the presence of the radioactive substance. Because cancer cells use sugar much more quickly than healthy tissues, the cancerous tissue absorbs the radioactive material. A scanner can spot the radioactive deposits, distinguishing cancerous from healthy tissue.
A PET scan is sometimes performed in tandem with a CT scan, providing even more detailed and useful results. Particularly beneficial during diagnosis of the disease, the combination of a CT and PET scan renders fast, detailed results that accurately reflect the presence and stage of mesothelioma.
Test results for PET scans are commonly available within a few days. As with CT scans, PET scans are interpreted first by a specialist and then forwarded to a patient’s physician, who explains the test results to the patient.