POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET)

DEFINITION y PURPOSE     It is useful in the diagnosis staging and treatment for cancer It can provide information that cannot be obtained by other technique such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging PET can obtain information about brain function and to study brain activity and various neurological activities It can evaluate heart muscle function in patient with coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathy

Is a non-invasive scanning technique that utilizes small amounts of radioactive positions (positively-charged particles) to visualize body function and metabolism

PREPARATION  Explain the procedure to the patient  Secure consent EQUIPMENTS    

Radiopharmaceutical similar to glucose (tracer) Computer PET Scan Cyclotron, a circular particle accelerator for positively charged ions. It is normally used to initiate nuclear transformation upon collision with a suitable target

PRECAUTION  Report any adverse reaction of tracer PROCEDURE  PET involves injecting a patient with the radiopharmaceutical similar to glucose  An hour after injection of this tracer a PET scan create image of a specific metabolic function by necessary the concentration and distribution of the tracer throughout the body  When it enters the body, the tracer courses through the blood stream to the target organ where it emits positrons  The positively-charged electrons collide with the negatively-charged electrons producing gamma rays  The gamma rays are detected by multiplier scintillation combination positioned on the opposite side of the patient  These signals are processed by the computer and images are generated NURSING RESPONSIBILITY  Withhold caffeine, alcohol 24 hours prior to procedure  Eat meal 3-4 hours prior to procedure  Withhold any drugs altering glucose metabolism  Clients sit on reclining chair in front of the PET scan  May be blind folded or wearing earplugs  Client is asked some mental function  Radioisotope is eliminated in the urine and requires no special precautions