Charleston Radiologists, PA
9313 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 302
Charleston, SC 29406
(843) 824-0606  -  (843) 824-0909 FAX
 

 

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information on PET Imaging


 
  PET Imaging
Positron Emission Tomography or PET is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging procedure that produces images based on the metabolic activity of cells. In PET imaging, a radiopharmaceutical called Flourodeoxyglucose or FDG, is administered intravenously. FDG is an analog of glucose. Most cancers metabolize glucose at a higher rate than normal tissue and therefore FDG becomes concentrated in malignant cells. Since cellular metabolic activity is altered before gross structural changes occur, PET is able to detect certain cancers before they are evident on CT or MRI. Currently, the most common clinical use of PET Imaging is for the diagnosis, staging or restaging of various cancers. Other indications include assessing myocardial viability and evaluating refractory seizures and dementias.

A nurse will check your blood sugar and start an IV. The IV is where the FDG will be injected. Following the injection, you will be asked to sit quietly and relax for about 45 minutes to an hour while the FDG distributes throughout your body. After the waiting period, you will be positioned on the scanning table where you will lay still for another 45 minutes to an hour. There are no side effects from the injection that you are given and no sedation is used. The results of your PET scan will be sent to your doctor's office within a few days. You may contact your referring physician to review the results.

Patient Preparation

  • No food for 4 to 6 hours prior to your appointment
  • Wear warm, comfortable clothes
  • You may take your regularly scheduled medications with water if they can be tolerated on an empty stomach
  • You may bring pain medications to the center to take if needed
  • If you are insulin dependent, please let us know before scheduling your appointment
  7/2/01
Charleston Radiologists P.A. offers PET scanning services
Cancer patients in North Charleston no longer need to travel to North Carolina for accurate analysis of the disease Read more…

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Featuring Dr. Joseph Mullaney
Topic: Uterine Fibroids

Q: What are Uterine Fibroids?
A: Fibroids are benign tumors that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. Fibroids range in size and may be located in various parts of the uterus. Women with fibroids do not always have symptoms, but depending on their size and location, they can cause pain and heavy bleeding.

Q: Who is most likely to have Uterine Fibroids?
A: Uterine fibroids are very common though they don’t always cause problems. 20-40% of women over 35 will develop fibroids of a significant size and African-American women are at a higher risk than the rest of the population.

Q: How are Uterine Fibroids diagnosed?
A: Fibroids are usually diagnosed during a gynecologic internal examination. The presence of fibroids is most often confirmed by an abdominal ultrasound. Fibroids can also be confirmed using magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging techniques.

Q: How can Interventional Radiologists treat Uterine Fibroids?
A: Interventional Radiologists can perform two minimally invasive procedures to remove uterine fibroids. These procedures can often can replace the need for major surgeries such as hysterectomy. These are Uterine Fibroid Embolization and Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRGFU).

Q: What is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
A: This approach to the treatment of fibroids blocks the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids causing them to shrink. It is a minimally-invasive procedure, which means it requires only a tiny nick in the skin, and is performed by an interventional radiologist while the patient is conscious but sedated — drowsy and feeling no pain. Advantages over surgery include no incision and a shorter recovery time.

Q: What is Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound?
A:Magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRGFU) is a non-invasive outpatient, procedure that uses high intensity focused ultrasound waves to ablate (destroy) the fibroid tissue. An interventional radiologist uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to see inside the body to deliver the treatment directly to the fibroid. This procedure, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in October 2004, is a newer treatment option for women with fibroids.

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