Patient Center »Preparing for Procedures »Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Fox Chase Cancer Center was the first institution in the Greater Philadelphia region to offer the PET/CT Scanner.

PET/CT is the combination of two advanced technologies fused together to give higher quality, more detailed images of a patient's internal anatomy and cell metabolic function.

PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography and is the computerized process of imaging high metabolic activity. Metabolic activities are the physical and chemical changes taking place in living cells, such as how cells absorb nutrition. CT or Computerized Tomography uses X-ray images to illustrate the anatomical structures of the body. The fusion of these two technologies creates the revolutionary PET/CT unit, which aids the physician in detecting tumors.

Benefits of PET

PET may enable physicians to:

• See tiny tumors and allow for an early diagnosis.
• Determine if cancer has spread.
• Determine if cancer has returned or if it is only scar tissue from surgery.
• Determine and track the effectiveness of a patient's therapy.
• Eliminate more invasive exams or surgeries.
• Assess or "stage" cancer prior to surgery or treatment.

For more information about your PET Scan or to make an appointment, call 215-214-4210.