And although cancer silently spreads through the body, in a single examination PET can inspect all of the organs to see if cancer has spread anywhere. Ask your doctor if PET scanning is right for you. Make an appointment for a PET scan Frequently Asked Questions about PET Early intervention is PET's most important benefit. The earlier the detection, the more likely the cure. Prior to changes in structure that normally would show up on a CT or MRI scan, PET scanning can reveal metabolic changes in the body.
PET shows whether a tumor is benign or malignant.
No other imaging technique can do this. Painful, invasive surgeries, such as biopsies, may no longer be necessary for diagnosis. For patients whose cancer is newly diagnosed, it is important to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, so that appropriate treatment can be started. PET can search the entire body for cancer in a single examination, revealing any metastases as well as the primary site. PET shows the effectiveness of therapy.