PET Scan for Mesothelioma: A Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tool
Posted on: December 4, 2023 *Updated on: May 25, 2024A PET scan is a valuable medical technique used to assess the functionality of organs and systems within the body. Its primary purpose is to detect the presence of cancer in specific areas of interest.
During the procedure, a small amount of radioactive sugar is administered into the patient’s body. As cancerous cells tend to absorb sugar more actively, this radioactive substance acts as a tracer. A specialized camera then captures images of the radioactive energy within the body, with cancerous cells appearing brighter in the resulting images.
Typically, the radiopharmaceutical is injected into the bloodstream, and images are collected using a rotating cylinder, similar to CT scans, which captures images from various angles.
PET scans are instrumental in identifying tumors and assisting in the staging of cancer. The radioactive tracer allows doctors to determine if the cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. Following the test, patients can resume their normal activities as there is no significant downtime.
Research has shown that PET scans are highly accurate, with an 89% success rate in distinguishing between malignant mesothelioma and non-cancerous conditions.
Specifically for mesothelioma cases, PET scans have demonstrated sensitivity scores of 86-92%, specificity scores of 83-89%, and overall accuracy scores of 87-89%. This means that:
- Up to 92% of positive mesothelioma cases were successfully detected using this test.
- Up to 89% of individuals without mesothelioma received accurate negative results.
- Up to 89% of people, whether affected by mesothelioma or not, received precise diagnostic assessments.
The PET scan procedure typically takes between 45 to 90 minutes, most of which is for the radioactive sugar to travel through the patient’s body.
One notable advantage of PET scans is that they are non-invasive and painless. Patients experience no discomfort during the procedure.
Before the scan, a radiopharmaceutical material is injected approximately one hour in advance, and in some cases, a second CT scan may be conducted afterward to obtain more detailed images.
Overall, PET scans play a crucial role in the accurate and efficient diagnosis of mesothelioma and other cancers, providing vital information for effective treatment planning.