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A member asked:
Are radiologists always 100% correct when diagnosis pet scans?
5 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
"to err is human": Nobody is 100% correct 100% of the time. Our lives on earth are imperfect. Pet scan interpretations are likely more subjective than are traditional ct scans (pet's are more subject to the eyes, the past experiences, and the biases of each interpreter).
Answered 12/9/2013
5.6k views
PET scan limits: No. Accuracy is influenced at least in part by cancer type...Eg, if the cancer likes to use glucose as it's energy source. Pet scans detect cells which "really like glucose", like many fast growing cells do. Also, infectious or inflammatory lesions can mimic a cancer/tumor. A radiologist will often include/list such limitations if needed for the particular study.
Answered 10/3/2016
5.6k views
No one is perfect: Simply, we are all human. We are not perfect, and we build imperfect things. It is unrealistic to expect perfection. The radiologists i know all try their best in this imperfect world to give the patient and their referring doctor the most accurate interpretation possible.
Answered 11/29/2013
5.1k views
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