PET-CT SCAN QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
How does a PET scan work? (4 steps) - ANSWER-1. Tracer isotope decays and emits
back-to-bak photons
2. Two detectors light up at the same time
3. Infer position of the tracer somewhere along the line of sight
4. More lines of sight localize tracer
What is the significance of glucose and PET scans? What should you have patients do?
- ANSWER-Pre glucose check must be <200 mg/dL.
Have patient fast for at least 6 hours before hand and hydrate well
What are PET scans used for? - ANSWER-Cancer Detection/staging (initial treatment
strategy)
Radiation planning
Cancer treatment response
What cancer is PET scans not good for detecting? - ANSWER-Prostate cancer
What is SUV? - ANSWER-Standardized uptake value
what is USA? - ANSWER-Uptake in Supraclavicular Area- brown fat/adipose tissue-
symmetrical, linear- adrenergic stimulation
What happens to metal in a PET scan? - ANSWER-They will affect the image
What is the difference between PET scans and CTs and MRIs? - ANSWER-PET will
show extent of disease, can help monitor treatment and shows its effectiveness, reveals
disease earlier so you can diagnose faster, can detect whether a mass is benign or
malignant, and can also detect abnormalities before there is an anatomical change.
What does it mean when the SUV is 1? 2.3? 2.5? 1.0? 0.7? - ANSWER-1= uniform
distribution
2.3=blood pool
2.5= liver
1.0= bone marrow
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT
How does a PET scan work? (4 steps) - ANSWER-1. Tracer isotope decays and emits
back-to-bak photons
2. Two detectors light up at the same time
3. Infer position of the tracer somewhere along the line of sight
4. More lines of sight localize tracer
What is the significance of glucose and PET scans? What should you have patients do?
- ANSWER-Pre glucose check must be <200 mg/dL.
Have patient fast for at least 6 hours before hand and hydrate well
What are PET scans used for? - ANSWER-Cancer Detection/staging (initial treatment
strategy)
Radiation planning
Cancer treatment response
What cancer is PET scans not good for detecting? - ANSWER-Prostate cancer
What is SUV? - ANSWER-Standardized uptake value
what is USA? - ANSWER-Uptake in Supraclavicular Area- brown fat/adipose tissue-
symmetrical, linear- adrenergic stimulation
What happens to metal in a PET scan? - ANSWER-They will affect the image
What is the difference between PET scans and CTs and MRIs? - ANSWER-PET will
show extent of disease, can help monitor treatment and shows its effectiveness, reveals
disease earlier so you can diagnose faster, can detect whether a mass is benign or
malignant, and can also detect abnormalities before there is an anatomical change.
What does it mean when the SUV is 1? 2.3? 2.5? 1.0? 0.7? - ANSWER-1= uniform
distribution
2.3=blood pool
2.5= liver
1.0= bone marrow
