How can PET scans help determine whether lung cancer has spread?

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a valuable imaging technique used to detect cancer and its metastasis, or spread, throughout the body.1

In this process, a chemical compound labeled with a short-lived, positron-emitting radionuclide is injected into the patient. Because cancer cells often exhibit high metabolic activity, they can be identified by the way they process these radiopharmaceuticals. As the radionuclide decays, it emits positrons that annihilate with electrons, producing gamma rays that are detected by the scanner. A computer then integrates this data to create detailed images of the body. By visualizing these areas of high metabolic activity, clinicians can identify the primary tumor site and detect whether the cancer has spread to other organs or tissues.1