Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

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Risks

By Mayo Clinic staff

Although a radioactive substance is used during a PET scan, the amount of radiation that you're exposed to is too low to affect the normal processes of your body.

However, this radioactive material might harm the fetus of a pregnant woman. You and your doctor can discuss risk to the fetus or infant versus the reasoning and benefit of having a PET scan performed.

How you prepare Why it's done
References
  1. 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.
  2. PET scanning. American Society of Radiologic Technologists. https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/PETScanning.aspx. Accessed March 14, 2011.
  3. PET scan information sheet. American College of Radiology Imaging Network. http://www.acrin.org/PATIENTS/ABOUTIMAGINGEXAMSANDAGENTS/ABOUTPETSCANS.aspx. Accessed March 11, 2011.
  4. Visioni A, et al. Positron emission tomography for benign and malignant disease. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2011;91:249.
MY00238 May 7, 2011

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