The Family Caregiver Alliance points out that over 100 types of brain tumors exist; these can affect both adults and children. Brain tumors can start in the brain, called primary brain tumors, or come from another tumor elsewhere in the body, called secondary brain tumors. When diagnosing a brain tumor, doctors use different imaging scans, which pinpoint the location of the tumor. One imaging option is a positron emission tomography scan, also called a PET scan.
Preparation
MedlinePlus explains that patients cannot eat four to six hours before undergoing a PET scan, although they can drink water. A PET scan requires a consent form that patients must sign before undergoing the scan. During the scan, patients cannot wear any metal objects. The Diagnostic Centers of America adds that diabetic patients must have low blood sugar levels when having a PET scan, as higher levels can interfere with the image.
Procedure
Patients undergoing a PET scan receive a small dosage of a radioactive material, which helps produce the image of the brain. Doctors administer the radioactive material either through an injection or inhalation. MedlinePlus explains that the radioactive material travels up the bloodstream to the brain, where it collects in the brain tissue. After the brain absorbs the radioactive material, the patient lies down on a table, which enters the PET scanner. The patient must lie still while the scanner creates a 3-D image, which it displays on a computer for the doctors to view.
Time Frame
MedlinePlus notes that the radioactive material absorption in the brain takes up to an hour. In addition to the absorption time, the PET scan can take between 30 minutes to two hours, according to MedlinePlus.
Identification
The MayoClinic.com explains that the PET scan will show changes in the brain tissue, such as from a brain tumor, in different colors or brightness. A trained medical professional can properly identify a brain tumor from a PET scan. The Family Caregiver Alliance adds that a PET scan can also show if new tumor growth occurred or if radiation therapy has killed any of the brain tumor cells.
Considerations
The Family Caregiver Alliance notes that doctors may use a PET scan along with another diagnostic scan for a brain tumor, such as an MRI or CT scan. An MRI scan, or magnetic resonance imaging scan, uses radio waves and magnets. A CT scan, or a computed tomography scan, uses X-rays. MedlinePlus adds that false results can occur with a PET scan for a brain tumor, such as from abnormal blood sugar levels.
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