PET/CT Scanning

Hybrid technology enhances diagnosis and treatment

Combining the power of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with Computerized Tomography (CT), the PET/CT scanner is setting a new standard of imaging excellence at Main Line Health Imaging at Bryn Mawr and Paoli. 

The Philips Gemini 16 Slice PET/CT Scanner with Brilliance 16 Power CT technology produces both functional and anatomical images of exceptional quality in one simple procedure. Designed for maximum imaging flexibility, ease of use, and patient comfort, the PET/CT captures highly detailed views of the body in seconds, allowing a wide range of assessments, such as tracking blood flow in detail through the heart and assessing tumor activity.   

With applications for oncology, cardiology, and neurology, the hybrid unit offers radiologists unparalleled capabilities for diagnosing disease, monitoring disease activity, and planning treatment.  

• By studying metabolic activity, PET yields vital information in cancer cases. It assesses tumor activity and depth, finds residual cancer cells, and monitors for recurrent disease. PET's information is so precise, for example, that it can identify if a spot on a lung is cancerous or not.
• CT scans take thin cross-sectional images of the body, akin to slices of bread, which physicians can rotate, examine, and correlate on a computer screen. When combined with the functional information of PET alone, a PET/CT scan provides precise information on the location of the abnormal metabolic activity that is associated with tumors on PET scans. This allows more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

While each imaging test alone is effective to detect numerous conditions, the ability of the PET/CT to fuse the tests provides significantly more information on disease location and metabolism.

Locations

PET/CT scanning is available at the the following Main Line Health Imaging locations:

• Bryn Mawr Hospital Outpatient Imaging (located in the Founder's Building)
• Paoli PET/CT (located adjacent to Paoli Hospital)
• Riddle Hospital (located in the Neumann Annex at West Entrance of Hospital)

What Happens Next?

An experienced Main Line Health radiologist will analyze your PET/CT scans and send a report to your referring physician, who will inform you on your test results. Results cannot be given directly to the patient or family.