Guide To Pancreatic Cancer Tests

Positron Emission Tomography Scan

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are a type of diagnostic imaging test that can reveal patterns in the way a patient's body is using energy. A PET scan is a unique diagnostic test because it shows cellular changes other tests do not. All cells in the body require glucose to carry out their functions. When cells are growing, they require a larger amount of glucose and use it up faster than healthy cells. Cancerous cells are cells in the body that grow and multiply at an uncontrollable rate, using larger quantities of glucose than healthy cells. During a PET scan, the patient is injected with a radioactive tracer or sugar substance. This substance is taken up by the cells in the body using the most glucose, which would be the pancreatic cancer cells if they are present. The PET machine is then able to form a picture that shows where the cells that have taken up the glucose are. PET scans are often used in combination with other diagnostic imaging tests like CT scans to stage pancreatic cancer and evaluate the efficacy of treatment.

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