Can a pet scan detect rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 1

Yes.A PET Scan (or Positron Emission Tomography) Is a way of finding the most active areas in the body. the parts of the body that require the most energy use the most sugar, also referred to glucose). A PET scan uses a special material that imitates the sugar, and this is taken up by the cells in the area of activity. This material called a tracer has a small radioactive component attached to it. The images created as a result of PET scans are based on the detection of radiation from the emission of positrons (positively charged electrons) from the radioactive tracer. The subsequent images created are used to evaluate a variety of diseases, with the most common use being whole body imaging of cancer. Rheumatoid arthritis will be seen in a pet scan, However a pet scan will not tell you that it is RA that you are looking at. It will tell you that there is an area of high activity. At this stage the only way to be sure that you have RA is by recognising the symptoms and monitoring inflammation and any specific damage that may be done to various joints. through imaging such as Xray.