Part 7/8:
While any procedure involving ionizing radiation raises questions about safety, PET scans are generally considered to involve a low radiation risk. The exposure from a single scan is comparable to the natural radioactive background exposure experienced over two to three years, or the cumulative exposure a pilot might receive from cosmic radiation during 20 to 30 long-haul flights. Most patients weigh these minimal risks against the substantial benefits of accurate diagnosis and treatment opportunities, leading to a favorable perception of PET scanning’s role in modern medicine.