PET/CT Imaging Services

Saint Joseph Hospital
2900 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60657
866-667-7226
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PET/CT imaging is a non-invasive, highly accurate method to detect the early signs of cancer. This state-of-the-art scanning technology can be used for brain imaging and detecting Alzheimer’s disease as well as taking 3D images of the heart to determine the extent of tissue damage following a heart attack. The PET/CT procedure provides physicians with information about the body’s chemistry, cell function and exact location of a tumor. The precise images obtained with PET/CT are not available with other technologies such as CT, MRI or X-ray alone. PET/CT can be used to view anatomical structures and anomalies as well as analyze cancer cells, providing physicians with a more accurate picture of what is going on inside the body. For oncology patients, PET/CT is used to determine the exact location and stage of cancerous tissue and can possibly prevent unnecessary surgery and biopsies as well as inappropriate treatments. PET/CT can more accurately detect a tumor as small as 4 mm in total length.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that half the men and one-third of the women in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetimes. The ACS estimates that about 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and over half a million people will die of the disease. Being diagnosed with cancer can be frightening. But understanding what's going on inside your body can help you feel more in control of your disease.