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By Mayo Clinic staff
Different colors or degrees of brightness on the images from a PET scan represent different levels of tissue and organ function. A radiologist with special training in reading PET scans interprets the images.
Images from other tests, such as those from recent computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be compared or even combined with those of your PET scan. Some hospitals have a machine that can take a PET scan and a CT scan at the same time. The resulting images often provide greater clarity.
References
- Positron emission tomography - Computed tomography (PET/CT). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=PET. Accessed March 14, 2011.
- PET scanning. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/PETScanning.aspx. Accessed March 14, 2011.
- PET scan information sheet. American College of Radiology Imaging Network. http://www.acrin.org/PATIENTS/ABOUTIMAGINGEXAMSANDAGENTS/ABOUTPETSCANS.aspx. Accessed March 11, 2011.
- Visioni A, et al. Positron emission tomography for benign and malignant disease. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2011;91:249.
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