I just had my second Fusion PET-CT. This is a relatively new procedure, where one machine combines a CT and a PET. This is what the brochure says....

"PET-CT imaging combines the fine structural detail of the CT with the high sensitivity of PET to detect changes in cell metabolism. This combination helps your physician to more precisely diagnose a problem and allows for more accurate detection of the spread of disease.

Many cells in your body use glucose as a primary source of energy. Cancer cells grow very quickly and use more glucose. A radioactive form of glucose called Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is injected into your IV line. Like glucose, FDG molecules accumulate more readily in cancer cells than normal cells. FDG emits a positron, and the PET scanner detects the energy from the emitted positrons to create an image of the whole body. The PET scan is "fused" with a CT scan to allow more precise localization of abnormalities detected by the PET scan."

The brochure is wonderful with examples of a CT, a PET and a PET-CT to show how the 3 detect abnormalities.

Sorry for any typos, LOL.... after typing all this, I found a link to MSU... where I had my PET-CT done today, sheesh.

hugs,