Comparison between CT Scan and PET Scan

CT Scan

PET Scan

CT Scan costs range from $1,200 to $3,200; PET scans cost $3,000 to
Cost they usually cost less than MRIs (about half $6,000; much higher than
the price of MRI).
regular CT scans.
Usually completed within 5 minutes. Actual Usually takes 2 to 4 hours
Time taken
scan time usually less than 30 seconds.
for complete
Therefore, CT is less sensitive to patient
scan
movement than MRI.
The effective radiation dose from CT ranges Moderate to high radiation
from 2 to 10 mSv, which is about the same
as the average person receives from
Radiation
background radiation in 3 to 5 years.
exposure
Usually, CT is not recommended for
pregnant women or children unless
absolutely necessary.
Uses X-rays for imaging
Principle
used for
imaging

Despite being small, CT can pose the risk of

Effects on irradiation. Painless, noninvasive.
the body

Acronym for

Computed (Axial) Tomography

Scope of CT can outline bone inside the body very

Radioactive tracers that emit

positrons are used. The
positrons are tracked by the
system to generate a 3D
image over time.
Radiation risk from the
injection of a radioactive
tracer is about the same as
an X-ray
Positron emission
tomography
PET scans can image

application

CT Scan

PET Scan

accurately.

biological processes within

the body.

The first commercially viable CT scanner

was invented by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield in
History Hayes, United Kingdom. First patient's
brain-scan was done on 1 October 1971.

The compound was first

administered to two normal
human volunteers by Abass
Alavi in August 1976 at the
University of Pennsylvania.

Advantages of PET vs. CT scan

CT scans have advantages in viewing anatomical structures. Due to the high
contrast resolution of CT scanning, differences between the tissues are more
apparent compared to other techniques. Further, imaging in CT scan removes
the superimposition of structures other than the area of interest. The data from a
single procedure can be viewed in different planes and thus increases diagnostic
ability. This technique is also popular because it can be used to diagnose a
number of conditions. This might eliminate the need for other diagnostic
techniques such as colonoscopy.
Moreover, a U.S. government-financed study showed that annual CT scans of
heavysmokers reduce the risk that they will die from lung cancer by 20 percent. [1]
PET scans have an advantage over regular CT scans in determining the
functioning of biological processes. In a PET scan the imaging technique gets
down to the cellular level of the body, hence it can detect the early onset of
disease like cancer, before they start showing up in CT scan. It is also very useful
in finding out how effective the treatment is.

Risks
CT scans are associated with the risk of causing cancers, such as lung cancer,
colon cancer and leukemia. This is mainly due to the use of X-rays. There are
other safety concerns associated with the use of contrast agents which are
administered intravenously. However, these disadvantages can be reduced with
the use of lower doses.
There is exposure to ionization radiation in a PET scan. Pregnant or
breastfeeding women should not get this scan done. Some mild allergic reaction

may occur in some people because of the radioactive substance used. Sometimes
abnormal blood sugar and insulin levels may result in an erroneous PET report.