The information on this website is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your physician for health concerns.

+90 850 321 50 00

Neurological PET-CT

Functional brain imaging for dementia, epilepsy and neurodegenerative disease.

Written by: Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board
Last updated:

This content has been compiled by the Saygı Hospital Health Guide Editorial Board and is periodically reviewed by a specialist physician.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. You can book an appointment at our Radyoloji department. Book Appointment →

What is Neurological PET-CT?

Neurological PET-CT is a functional imaging modality that uses radiolabeled tracers to map cerebral metabolism, neurotransmitter activity and pathological protein deposition. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET assesses glucose metabolism, while amyloid PET (florbetaben, florbetapir, flutemetamol) and tau PET (flortaucipir) detect Alzheimer pathology in vivo.

Indications include differential diagnosis of dementia (Alzheimer vs frontotemporal vs Lewy body), epilepsy surgery planning to localize seizure focus, and Parkinson disease evaluation with DAT-SPECT or F-DOPA PET. Cerebral metabolic patterns guide both diagnosis and prognostication.

Symptoms

Atypical dementia presentation
Differentiation between Alzheimer and frontotemporal dementia
Refractory focal epilepsy for surgical planning
Suspected primary progressive aphasia
Parkinsonian syndrome differentiation
Suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Mild cognitive impairment workup

Risk Factors

Pregnancy and lactation
Uncontrolled diabetes (FDG-PET interpretation impacted)
Recent chemotherapy or steroid use
Inability to remain still 30-60 minutes
Severe claustrophobia
Renal impairment for some tracer clearance
Allergy to specific radiotracers (rare)

When to See a Doctor?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention promptly:

  • Cognitive decline with atypical features
  • Need for amyloid status confirmation in clinical trial
  • Refractory epilepsy considered for surgery
  • Discordant clinical and structural imaging findings
  • Suspected paraneoplastic encephalitis
  • Pre-surgical eloquent cortex mapping

Treatment Methods

01
Multidisciplinary team referral and clinical correlation
02
Pre-scan counseling and fasting (4-6 hours for FDG)
03
Glucose level check before FDG PET
04
Intravenous radiotracer injection with appropriate uptake time
05
PET-CT acquisition (10-30 minutes scanning)
06
Quantitative analysis with reference regions
07
Co-registration with MRI for anatomical correlation
08
Reading by nuclear medicine specialist with dementia expertise
09
Integration of results into clinical decision-making and counseling

Which Department to Visit?

You can visit our Radyoloji department for these complaints. Our specialist physicians will create the most suitable treatment plan for you.

Learn About Radyoloji Department

Let us help you

You can make an appointment with our specialists or contact us for your concerns.

Book AppointmentContact Us

Related Health Topics

Other articles from the same department you may want to explore.

What Is MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?

Radyoloji

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves and is the gold standard for imaging the brain, spine, joints, and internal organs.

What Is CT (Computed Tomography)?

Radyoloji

Computed tomography provides rapid, detailed cross-sectional images in emergency, trauma, and oncology cases.

What Is Ultrasound (Ultrasonography)?

Radyoloji

Ultrasonography is radiation-free and is widely used in pregnancy follow-up and the evaluation of abdominal organs and superficial tissues.

What Is an X-ray (Plain Radiograph)?

Radyoloji

X-ray is the oldest and most widely used radiologic test, providing rapid diagnosis in bone and lung pathologies.

Mammography

Radyoloji

Mammography is specialized low-dose X-ray imaging of breast tissue that detects cancer, often before clinical palpation, and is the primary tool for breast cancer screening in women 40 and older per ACR/ESR guidelines.

Doppler Ultrasound

Radyoloji

Doppler USG is critical for evaluating deep vein thrombosis, carotid stenosis, and organ blood flow.

Angiography

Radyoloji

Angiography examines all vascular systems in the body in detail, especially the cardiac and cerebral vessels.

PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography)

Radyoloji

PET-CT combines metabolic activity with anatomical imaging in cancer staging and treatment-response evaluation.

Health Disclaimer: The information on this page is prepared for general informational purposes only. It does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment. Please consult your physician for your complaints. Saygı Hospital does not accept responsibility for actions taken based on the information on this page.