If you have recently undergone a CT scan or an MRI, being told you now need a PET Scan can be confusing-and stressful. You might be asking yourself: “I just had a scan; why do I need another one?” or “Is something wrong that the other scans missed?”
At MRI Chandigarh, we hear these questions every day. The truth is, while CTs and MRIs are incredible tools, they have limitations. A PET Scan looks at your body in a completely different way, offering answers that other scans simply cannot provide.
In this post, we’ll break down the differences between these scans and explain why a PET-CT is often the “Gold Standard” for accurate diagnosis in Chandigarh.
The “Car Engine” Analogy
To understand the difference, imagine your body is a car.
A CT Scan or MRI is like taking a high-resolution photograph of the car. It shows you if the doors are dented, if the tires are flat, or if the engine block is cracked. It shows the structure.
A PET Scan is like looking at a thermal video of the car while the engine is running. It shows you which parts are overheating, where the fuel is going, and if the engine is firing correctly. It shows the function.
1. CT Scan & MRI: The Structural View
CT Scans (Computed Tomography) and MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) are designed to look at anatomy.
Best for: Broken bones, organ shapes, bleeding, or structural tumors.
Limitation: They can show a lump, but they can’t always tell if that lump is benign (harmless), scar tissue, or malignant (cancerous) without a biopsy.
2. PET Scan: The Metabolic View
A PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan detects cellular activity.
Before the scan, you are given a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar). Since disease cells (like cancer) grow fast, they “eat” much more sugar than normal cells. On the scan, these areas “light up” brightly.
Best for: Detecting cancer early, checking if cancer has spread (metastasis), and seeing if a treatment is working.
The “Game Changer”: A PET scan can often detect cellular changes months before a tumor grows large enough to be seen on a regular CT or MRI.
Why Doctors Order a PET-CT (The Combo)
You will notice that at MRI Chandigarh, we offer PET-CT Scans. This is a hybrid machine that does both at once.
- The PET tells us “There is high activity here.”
- The CT tells us “That location is exactly on the upper lobe of the right lung.”
By combining them, doctors get the precise location and the biological behavior of the disease in one go.
3 Signs You Might Need a PET Scan
Staging a Diagnosis: If a biopsy confirms an issue, doctors use PET scans to see if it is isolated to one spot or if it has spread elsewhere in the body.
Monitoring Treatment: If you are undergoing chemotherapy, a PET scan is the best way to see if the active cells are “turning off.” A tumor might look the same size on a CT scan (because of scar tissue), but a PET scan will show that it is dead and inactive.
Investigating the Unknown: If you have a fever of unknown origin or infection that isn’t showing up on blood tests or standard X-rays.
Affordability vs. Quality in Chandigarh
Historically, the high price of the radioactive tracer (isotope) drove PET scan costs higher than any other imaging type. Consequently, private hospitals in the Tricity frequently charge patients upwards of ₹20,000. In contrast, MRI Chandigarh has disrupted this market because we firmly believe that an accurate diagnosis should never drain your savings.
Our Price: Starting at ₹12,999.
Technology: High-definition Digital PET-CT
Reporting: Verified by senior Nuclear Medicine specialists.
Conclusion
If your doctor has prescribed a PET Scan, do not panic. It is simply the most precise tool available to get a clear picture of your health. It saves time, prevents unnecessary surgeries, and ensures you get the exact treatment you need.
Need to book a PET Scan in Chandigarh?
Don’t wait. Call MRI Chandigarh today to book your appointment at the most affordable rates in the Tricity.
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