In general, a PET scan can measure vital functions, such as blood flow, oxygen use and blood sugar (glucose) metabolism. It can also identify organs and tissues that aren’t working as they should.

If your healthcare provider suspects you may have cancer, they’ll likely recommend a PET scan, which can detect cancer and/or make a diagnosis.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, your provider may recommend more than one PET scan throughout your treatment to:

• Determine whether the cancer has spread in your body (metastasized).
• Assess the effectiveness of treatment.
• Determine if the cancer has returned after treatment (recurred).
• Evaluate the prognosis (outlook) of the cancer.

If you’re having heart issues, your provider may recommend a PET scan to:

• Determine the effects of a heart attack on areas of your heart.
• Identify areas of the heart muscle that would benefit from angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery.