PET Diagnostic Imaging

Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance is now offering one of the most advanced whole-body imaging technologies available today with it’s new dedicated Siemens BIOGRAPH PET/CT scanner. Providence Little Company of Mary is one of only a few area hospitals offering PET.

Whole-body PET (Positron Emission Tomography) is an invaluable clinical test for cancer, heart disease and neurological disorders. PET uses a molecular imaging procedure that generates pictures of the precise location and extent of disease. By imaging the molecular and physiological basis for disease, PET enables physicians to detect abnormal cell growth and activity. This information aids in the early detection and improved treatment of many diseases, allowing enhanced capabilities in pre-surgical staging, elimination of invasive procedures, enhanced therapy monitoring capabilities, and a reduction in the number of diagnostic tests performed.

PET allows the Nuclear Medicine Department to look at minute chemical and physiological changes related to metabolism. While other imaging methods provide mainly structural information, PET lets us see how the body is functioning. PET technology provides distinct clinical advantages.

The Pictorial Archival Communication Technology is a digital reporting system that allows your radiologic procedures to be transmitted to the neuroradiologist and your private physician within minutes. By the time you are dressed and ready to go, doctors can be reviewing your radiologic procedures and making healthcare decisions. No more carrying films from doctor to doctor.