Possible risks of PET-CT Scan

 A PET-CT scan is a safe test for most people. But like all medical tests it has some risks. Your doctor and radiographer make sure the benefits of having the test outweigh these risks. 

Some of the possible risks include:

Pregnancy

Pregnant women should only have the scan in an emergency. There’s a risk that the radiation could harm the developing baby. Contact the department beforehand if you are or think you might be pregnant.

Breastfeeding

If you are breastfeeding, let the department know a few days before your appointment. They will let you know if you need to stop breastfeeding for a length of time after having the radioactive drug. You might need to store enough expressed milk for at least one feed.

Radiation

Exposure to radiation during a PET-CT scan can slightly increase your risk of developing cancer in the future. Talk to your doctor if this worries you. 

Bruising and swelling

You might get a small bruise around the area where they put the needle in. 

There is a risk that the radioactive tracer will leak outside the vein. This can cause swelling and pain in your arm but it's rare. CLICK HERE

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are medical x-rays?

Image
click here X-rays  are a form of electromagnetic  radiation , similar to visible light. Unlike light, however, x-rays have higher energy and can pass through most objects, including the body. Medical x-rays are used to generate images of tissues and structures inside the body. If x-rays traveling through the body also pass through an x-ray detector on the other side of the patient, an image will be formed that represents the “shadows” formed by the objects inside of the body. One type of x-ray detector is photographic film, but there are many other types of detectors that are used to produce digital images. The x-ray images that result from this process are called radiographs.
Read more

overview of nuclear medicine?

Image
  What is nuclear medicine? Nuclear medicine  is a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to assess bodily functions and to diagnose and treat disease. Specially designed cameras allow doctors to track the path of these radioactive tracers. Single  Photon  Emission  Computed Tomography  or SPECT and Positron Emission Tomography or PET scans are the two most common imaging modalities in nuclear medicine. What are radioactive tracers? Radioactive tracers are made up of carrier molecules that are bonded tightly to a radioactive atom. These carrier molecules vary greatly depending on the purpose of the scan. Some tracers employ molecules that interact with a specific protein or sugar in the body and can even employ the patient’s own cells. For example, in cases where doctors need to know the exact source of intestinal bleeding, they may radiolabel (add radioactive atoms) to a sample of red blood cells taken from the patient. They...
Read more

What’s the difference between a PET scan, CT scan and MRI?

   Computed tomography (CT)   scans use X-rays.   Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)   scans use magnets and radio waves. Both produce still images of organs and body structures. PET scans use a radioactive tracer to show how an organ is functioning in real time. PET scan images can detect cellular changes in organs and tissues earlier than CT and MRI scans. Your healthcare provider may perform a PET scan and CT scan at the same time (PET-CT). This combination test produces 3D images that allow for a more accurate diagnosis. Some hospitals now use a hybrid PET/MRI scan. This new technology creates extremely high-contrast images. Providers mainly use this type of scan for diagnosing and monitoring cancers of the soft tissues (brain, head and neck,  liver  and pelvis). click Here
Read more