BETA - What is a PET/CT scan? How can a PET/CT scan help monitor myeloma?

 PET/CT scans are one of the most important imaging tools used in multiple myeloma and other cancers—but understanding how they work, what they show, and when they should be repeated can feel overwhelming. In this HealthTree University video, we explain what a PET/CT scan is, how it combines metabolic and structural imaging to detect cancer activity, and why it plays such a key role in diagnosis, monitoring treatment response, and detecting relapse.

You’ll learn how the PET portion of the scan uses a radioactive glucose tracer to identify areas of increased metabolic activity, while the CT component provides detailed anatomical images to pinpoint exactly where disease is located. We also discuss how PET/CT scans differ from MRI scans, why PET scans are often combined with high-quality CT imaging in myeloma, and how these scans help doctors evaluate lytic lesions, plasmacytomas, and minimal residual disease (MRD).

In addition, this lesson covers:
• How to prepare for a PET/CT scan
• What the scan experience is like
• Safety considerations around radiation exposure and contrast dyes
• How often PET/CT scans are typically repeated in smoldering and active myeloma
• When PET/CT scans are preferred over MRI
• Why lytic lesions may still appear after treatment even when myeloma is inactive
• Emerging research into new myeloma-specific PET tracers and imaging agents

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, living with smoldering myeloma, or undergoing active treatment, understanding PET/CT imaging can help you better interpret your results and participate more confidently in your care decisions.