PET scan

[juzzyk]

Does anyone have any experience of a PET scan for epilepsy?

My neurologist recently referred me to an epilepsy specialist after managing my condition for 5 years. I think he wants another opinion on medication or other options for temporal lobe epilepsy. I have had MRI's before and just wonder, what information does a PET scan provide that the MRI doesn't?

 

[cadsgj]

How is a PET scan different from a CT or MRI scan?

One of the main differences between PET scans and other imaging tests like CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is that the PET scan reveals the cellular level metabolic changes occurring in an organ or tissue. This is important and unique because disease processes often begin with functional changes at the cellular level. A PET scan can often detect these very early changes whereas a CT or MRI detect changes a little later as the disease begins to cause changes in the structure of organs or tissues.

This seems like best I read... relatively brief but didn't do too too much of a search though

 

[Porkette]

Hi juzzyk,

I had a PET scan done before I had brain surgery on the right temporal lobe. cadsgi gave you some good info. but another thing a PET scan can do is show the blood flow in the brain along with showing memory loss in a person. This test is also used to show coronary heart disorders. The test was very simple and it's a lot like the MRI test when they do it takes about 30 - 60 min. to be completed but the test shows a lot of detail when you see the pictures. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[juzzyk]

Thank you both for the information. The specialist didn't really explain why, but I gather he wants more detailed information about where the seizures are localised. Hopefully it will help, as the MRI was all clear.