www.AffiliatedPet.com   Click here to setup an appointment for a PET Scan at Affiliated P.E.T. Systems   LOCATIONS     9711 Medical Center Drive Suite #103 Rockville, Maryland 20850 Phone: 301-610-0900     1400 Forest Glen Road Suite #430 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: 301-681-9100       ABOUT US   Affiliated PET Systems offers two convenient locations serving Montgomery County, Maryland and Metropolitan Washington, DC with the latest equipment, technology and clinical expertise.  Our Silver Spring location features one of the most advanced PET/CT Imaging Modalities in the area.  Advancing the standard in PET Imaging technology, our Rockville and Silver Spring PET Imaging Centers were among the first to provide Image Fusion, a process of co-registering PET data with CT/MRI images giving more detailed information to our physicians to enhance their clinical interpretations. This new "Fused" information can aid local physicians to accurately diagnose, stage, and restage their patient's disease or determine response to treatment.   What is a PET Scan?  Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a powerful imaging technique that holds great promise in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, particularly cancer.  A non-invasive test, PET accurately images metabolic activity in the human body in a single scan, allowing physicians to examine the entire body at once.  PET provides a more complete picture, making it easier to diagnose problems, determine extent of disease, prescribe treatment and continue to assess progress.  How does a PET Scan work?  A PET scan is completely painless, with no side effects.  After fasting for 4-6 hours, you will receive an intravenous injection of radioactive glucose tracer.  There is no danger from this tracer and the radiation exposure is similar to what you might receive from a CT scan.  After the injection you will need to wait about 45 minutes to allow the tracer to be distributed throughout your body.  During the scan you will be asked to lie on a padded table that will allow you to move in and out of the PET scanner.  The scan may take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes while you rest quietly.   ABOUT VIJAY M. VARMA, MD   Dr. Varma is also the Director for the Center for Nuclear Medicine at Shady Grove Radiological Consultants, P.A.  Dr. Varma is well-known for his experience with PET Imaging for more than 25 years in all areas as well as his special expertise with thyroid disease.  Prior to SGR, Dr. Varma was with George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, D.C. in the Nuclear Medicine Division from 1972 until 1998 during which time he was a Medical Director on the Advisory Board of the Radiological Sciences & Allied Health Program at the Nuclear Medicine Technology School. He is a member of the American College of Nuclear Physicians and the American College of Radiology.   ABOUT RYAN J. ZUCKER, MD   Dr. Zucker is a leading Radiology P.E.T. Specialist. He is board certified and nationally recognized in the field of diagnostic radiology, was the Chairman of the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Andrews Air Force Base and is the Director at Affiliated P.E.T. Systems. Dr. Zucker received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and completed a Fellowship in Nuclear Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center.     ABOUT HOWARD DiPIAZZA, MD   Dr. DiPiazza is a Radiologist with Clinical Radiologists, P.A. and the Attending Radiologist with Diagnostic Medical Imaging, P.A. at Holy Cross Hospital of Silver Spring, Maryland.  Dr. DiPiazza completed his residency at Georgetown University Hospital in 1985 and received the Thayer Award for Teaching Excellence in 1984. He is board certified in Radiology with Special Competency in Nuclear Radiology.  He is also a member of the American College of Radiology, The Radiological Society of North America, and The Society of Nuclear Medicine.         Click here to setup an appointment for a PET Scan at Affiliated P.E.T. Systems