Question

A client with possible Alzheimer's diesease is scheduled to have a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. The daughter asks the nurse how this test is different from a CT scan. What is the nurses's best response?

A) The PET scan is a newer test that can see the brain more clearly
B) The PET scan provides information about brain function rather than structure
C) The CT scan makes a lot of noise and the PET scan is quieter
D) The CT scan requires a contrast medium to be injected and the PET scan does not

Answer 1

A PET scan gives information about brain function, while a CT scan is focused on brain structure. PET scans are useful in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease by showing areas of decreased metabolic activity in the brain.

Step-by-step explanation:

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a computed tomography (CT) scan are different types of diagnostic tools. The nurse's best response to how a PET scan differs from a CT scan is that a PET scan provides information about brain function rather than structure. While CT scans are used to visualize the anatomy and the structure of the brain, PET scans are particularly useful in assessing the brain's function. They can monitor metabolic activity in the brain, such as the brain's use of glucose, which can indicate areas of decreased metabolism associated with Alzheimer's disease. PET scans involve injecting a mildly radioactive tracer into the bloodstream, allowing the detection of active and inactive areas of the brain.