Sentinel Node Study

A PET-MRI scan combines the anatomic imaging of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with the functional imaging of PET (positron emission tomography) in one session. It creates a very detailed 3D image of the inside of the body.

A PET-MRI scan is done to know the location of cancer and to find out how big it is. It is also used in various neurological and cardiac conditions. The scan is helpful in planning the treatment and checking out how well the treatment is working. For instance, if an individual is having seizures that don’t respond to medicines, a PET-MRI may be advised to evaluate if surgery could help.

For the PET scan, a small amount of a radioactice tracer is injected intravenously. The PET scan shows up areas of the body where cells are more active. At the same time, MRI scan uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed pictures.

Depending on the area of the body being scanned and the number of scans ordered by the doctor, the procedure usually takes around  2-3 hours.

It is a safe test. Since no X-rays are used, there’s no radiation exposure from the MRI.

It is a state-of-the-art PET CT scanner, providing highly detailed images.

In a PET CT scan, motion (like breathing and beating of the heart) can cause blurring or reduced resolution, thus causing reduced lesion detectability. This makes it a challenge to detect the smallest tumor. A motion-free PET CT scan helps provide better image quality and improved lesion localization.

A gamma camera is a nuclear medicine imaging machnine. It records the energy emission from the radiotracer in the body and converts it into an image. Its radiation detectors are called gamma camera heads. It provides detailed information about the functioning of various organs such as thyroid, lungs, heart, parathyroids, kidneys, liver, adrenals, etc. They are used in the diagnosis of health conditions and follow-up treatment.

A dual-head camera is equipped with two heads capable of detecting the presence of radiation. Two opposing detectors help pick lesions that may have been picked out of the scope of a single detector. Two heads also provide better localization of a lesion’s depth and estimate its size.