Cheryl, I'm told it doesn't. I think PET is not a great method for detecting brain mets...MRI better. Primarily b/c PET scans measure glucose uptake & highlight abnormal metabolic activity. The brain is constantly active, so the PET wouldn't give a true read of "abnormal" activity. I'm told that this is why after the radioactive glucose is injected, they have you sit by yourself, in the dark, to quiet your brain & allow those lesions & nodules have chance to "feed" & instead of doesn't getting sucked up by the brain.
I also learned recently that you shouldn't exercise right before a PET, b/c again, right after exercise, your muscles are hungry for "food" & will suck up all that radioactive glucose & may contribute to a false read.
Oh the things we learn on this journey...
Keep the faith!
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