Overview

Most scans show what something looks like. A PET CT scan goes further and shows what the tissue is actually doing. It combines two technologies in one study. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) reads the metabolic activity inside cells, while Computed Tomography (CT) maps the body's structure in detail.

Because it reacts to abnormal metabolic activity, a PET CT can pick up disease before a tumour has grown enough to show on a routine scan. Doctors rely on it most in cancer care, though it also helps assess certain heart conditions and brain tumours.

At Sarvodaya Hospital, our advanced PET CT service delivers precise, reliable results quickly, so diagnosis and treatment planning can move forward without delay.

PET CT for Cancer

Few tests earn their place in cancer care the way a PET CT for cancer does. It uses a small amount of radioactive glucose, often called an FDG PET scan. Cancer cells burn through glucose faster than normal tissue, so they show up on the scan as areas of high activity. That is what lets doctors find disease before it has caused visible structural change.

It gets ordered for early cancer detection, to check whether a cancer has spread, and to guide decisions around surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. It is also one of the clearer ways to judge whether a treatment is working, and it catches recurrence early if cancer comes back. Capturing function and anatomy in one study gives doctors more confidence in what they are seeing, which is why it has become one of the most trusted tools in modern oncology.

PET CT for Heart Conditions

A PET CT for heart conditions is not only about cancer. In heart care it shows how well blood is reaching the heart muscle and where circulation has fallen off. It can also tell whether damaged tissue is still alive and worth saving, known as myocardial viability. That answer often shapes the plan, helping decide whether medication is enough or whether angioplasty or bypass surgery is the better route.

PET CT for Brain Tumours

A PET CT for brain tumour cases raises a tricky question after treatment. Is what we are seeing an active tumour, or scar tissue left behind by therapy? A PET CT separates the two by looking at how the tissue is metabolising rather than just how it looks. That helps at diagnosis, during treatment planning, and later in follow-up, when the aim is to catch any recurrence early.

Available PET Scans at Sarvodaya Hospital

Not every cancer shows up the same way, so Sarvodaya offers a full range of PET scans, each suited to a particular condition or tracer. Depending on what your doctor is looking for, the options include:

• FDG PET Scan, for cancer staging and checking treatment response.
• Ga-68 PSMA PET Scan, for prostate cancer.
• DOTA PET Scan, for neuroendocrine cancer.
• FAPI PET Scan, for lung cancer.
• TRIVEHEXIN PET Scan, for head and neck and pancreatic cancer.
• PENTIXAFOR PET Scan, for oesophagal cancer.
• EXENDIN PET Scan, for pancreatic tumours.
• Whole Body PET/CT Scan.
• FDH, for cancer and infection imaging.
• FDOPA, for Parkinsonism and brain tumour imaging.
• 68Ga Radio-Peptides.
• Infection Imaging using 18F-FDG labelled leucocytes.
• Brain PET/CT.
• Cardiac PET/CT, for myocardial viability.

Benefits of a PET CT Scan

• Picks up disease at an early stage, often before other scans notice anything.
• Delivers both functional and anatomical imaging in a single scan.
• Sharpens cancer diagnosis and staging.
• Shows how well a cancer treatment is actually working.
• Catches cancer recurrence
• Helps with selected heart and neurological conditions too.
• Cuts down the need for several separate imaging tests.
• Feeds into a personalised treatment plan shaped around your own situation.

Who Needs a PET CT Scan?

Your doctor might suggest one for a few reasons. Maybe symptoms are pointing toward cancer, or a known cancer that needs accurate staging. Maybe you are partway through treatment, and the question is whether it is working, or there is concern that a cancer has returned.
Beyond oncology, a PET CT may be recommended to look at certain heart diseases, check whether heart muscle is still viable, investigate a brain tumour, or answer questions other scans could not.

Diagnosis and Technology

At Sarvodaya Hospital, PET CT imaging pairs advanced nuclear medicine with high-resolution CT in one system. It detects shifts in cellular activity while pinpointing exactly where in the body they are happening.
That lets our specialists diagnose with more confidence, stage cancer accurately, follow treatment progress, and build a plan that fits each patient. Every scan is performed by experienced nuclear medicine specialists and radiologists, in accordance with internationally accepted imaging protocols.

PET CT Procedure

It starts with a small injection of a radioactive tracer, usually FDG, into a vein. After a short wait for the tracer to circulate, you lie on the scanner table while the machine captures the PET and CT images together in one painless session.
The scan itself takes about 30 to 60 minutes, though the whole visit can run two to three hours once preparation and uptake time are included. Afterwards, specialists review the images and prepare a detailed report.

PET CT Preparation

Your doctor will likely ask you not to eat for several hours beforehand, though plain water is usually fine. Let your care team know about anything relevant, such as your medications, diabetes, a pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, or recent procedures. You may also be advised to wear comfortable clothing and avoid strenuous activity before the scan.

Is a PET CT Scan Safe?

Yes, for the most part. A PET CT scan is safe and well established, and the tracer carries only a very low dose of radiation that your body clears naturally within a short time. It is performed under strict safety protocols by trained professionals. The main exception is pregnancy, where a PET CT is generally avoided unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will talk through any precautions that apply to you.

Why Choose Sarvodaya Hospital for a PET CT Scan

• Advanced PET CT imaging technology geared toward accurate diagnosis.
• Experienced nuclear medicine specialists and radiologists who run every scan.
• Comprehensive cancer imaging and staging
• Multidisciplinary care, with oncology, cardiology and neurology teams working side by side.
• Diagnostic and treatment planning shaped around each patient.
• High standards of patient safety and quality protocols.
• Timely reporting, so clinical decisions are not held up.
• Compassionate, patient-centred care throughout your diagnostic journey.