Intermediate
Technical
IVT
PET-CT
Also written as: PET-CT — Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography
Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging used for cancer staging and response assessment.
Full Definition
PET-CT is a hybrid imaging technique that combines metabolic information from PET scanning with anatomical detail from CT scanning. In oncology, it is widely used for initial staging, restaging after treatment, and monitoring treatment response. The technique detects areas of high glucose metabolism, which can indicate cancerous tissue, though interpretation requires expertise as inflammation and infection can also cause increased uptake.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate; avoid confusion with separate PET or CT scans.
In Context
- "The PET-CT showed no evidence of distant metastases." — staging report
- "Follow-up PET-CT demonstrated complete metabolic response to chemotherapy." — treatment response assessment
Also known as
PET/CT
positron emission tomography-computed tomography
Don't confuse with
PET scan
CT scan