Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET/CT) is an invaluable imaging technology used most commonly in cancer management. PET/CT is unique as the functional information PET provides is superimposed with CT imaging for precise anatomical localisation. Combining these scans in our state-of-the-art PET/CT scanner provides highly detailed information about the presence or current state of disease, as well as the precise location of disease.
PET/CT scans can provide information that other imaging modalities such as ultrasound, x-ray, MRI or CT can’t provide, because radiologists can distinguish between living or dead tissue and benign or malignant tumours. If an area is a malignant cancer, the signals will be stronger compared with the surrounding normal tissue. If the area is dead tissue the signals will be less (or absent) compared with the surrounding normal tissue. PET/CT can identify early stage disease, sometimes before symptoms present.
The main application of PET/CT is for detecting the spread of cancer to secondary sites, also known as cancer metastasis, prior to treatment. PET/CT is used to more accurately diagnose, localise and monitor cancer.
PET/CT can also assess the blood flow and function of brain and heart tissue, and during the assessment of infection and inflammation.
Billing policy
Medicare provides funding for some PET/CT examinations when the scan is requested by a medical specialist. However, not all scans can be bulk-billed so we recommend that patients ask if there will be a fee when the booking is made.