Nuclear & PET

Using The Best Technology To Provide The Best Results

Learn More About Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology

Zwanger Pesiri has separated itself from other radiology practitioners because of our commitment to go above and beyond in all facets of radiology. Not only are our dedicated staff subspecialty trained and Board Certified by the American Board of Radiology, they are committed to providing patients with the highest quality care. By using some of the most advanced technology in the field, we are able to provide patients with accurate scans and interpretations that are of the highest attention to detail. Physicians at Zwanger Pesiri are exceptionally knowledgeable in their own individual area of practice, taking the patient's health incredibly seriously while upholding the company’s virtuous commitment to patient experience. Take a look at our nuclear and PET scans available in New York and schedule an exam today.

PET/CT

A PET-CT scan combines a CT scan and a PET scan to give detailed information to more accurately diagnose and locate cancers while increasing patient comfort. Most PET scans today are performed on instruments that are combined PET and CT scanners. The combined functions provide images that pinpoint the location of abnormal metabolic activity within the body, like malignant tumor cells. Combining the scans has been shown to provide more accurate diagnoses than the two scans performed separately.

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Because both scans are done at the same time, physicians are able to precisely overlay the metabolic data of the PET scan and the detailed anatomic data of the CT scan to make a more detailed image than either test would make by itself. Every PET/CT scan performed at Zwanger Pesiri is reviewed and interpreted by Board Certified Radiologists and subspecialty trained nuclear medicine doctors.

Alone, PET, or positron emission tomography, monitors the biochemical functioning of cells by detecting how they process certain compounds, such as glucose, which is metabolized by cancer cells at a much higher rate than normal cells. This allows the PET to detect cancerous cells, even if they are at an early stage. The downside of PET scans is that it cannot pinpoint the exact size and location of tumors to a precision, which is necessary for optimal diagnosis and treatment planning.

CT scans, when done alone, provide a highly detailed picture of the body’s anatomical structures by taking cross-sectional images of X-ray slices of the body. CT scans do an excellent job of depicting anatomical structures, but could potentially miss the early stages of tumors.

When both procedures are combined and radiologists are able to rapidly perform both scans in one session without having to move the patient, doctors can precisely overlay the metabolic data of the PET scan and the detailed anatomic data of the CT scan to pinpoint the location and stage of tumors. This allows for overwhelmingly better data to work with, which in turn, allows for a more focused treatment plan. More importantly, however, the PET/CT scan enhances patient comfort, reduces the number of scanning sessions, and is a noninvasive procedure that provides better imaging data.

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Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine imaging uses very small amounts of radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals that are typically injected into the bloodstream, inhaled, or swallowed to diagnose, evaluate, or treat a variety of diseases. The radiopharmaceutical travels through the area being examined, giving off energy in the form of gamma rays which are detected by a special camera and a computer to create images of the inside of your body. Nuclear medicine imaging provides unique information that often cannot be obtained using other imaging procedures and enables visualization or organ and tissue structures as well as function.

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The tiny amount of radioactive substance used during this procedure because it is absorbed by body tissues. Radiopharmaceuticals are made up of carrier molecules that are bonded tightly to a radioactive atom. These carrier molecules vary greatly depending on the purpose of the scan. The reason that these molecules carry a small amount of radioactive material is because it has to be detected on the PET scan. Radiotracers accumulate in tumors or regions of inflammation, but can also bind to specific proteins in the body.

There are several different types of this radioactive substance, but the type used will depend on the type of study and body part being studied. Scans are used to diagnose many medical conditions and diseases, but some of the tests that utilize radiopharmaceuticals include renal exams, thyroid texans, bone scans, gallium scans, heart scans, brain scans, and breast scans. In children, nuclear medicine can be used to investigate abnormalities in the esophagus, evaluate the openness of tear ducts, evaluate the openness of ventricular shunts in the brain, assess congenital heart disease for shunts and pulmonary blood flow, and much more.

Nuclear medicine also offers therapeutic procedures, like radioactive iodine therapy that uses small amounts of radioactive materials to treat cancer and other medical conditions affecting the thyroid gland, as well as treatments for other cancers and medical conditions.

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