PET/CT Patient Preparation

WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR EXAM:
Because a PET scan involves radioactivity, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or if there is a possibility that you might be pregnant. Tell your doctor if you think you will be unable to lie down very still for 30 minutes during your PET scan.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR EXAM:
After a careful review of your history and any prior treatments (i.e., chemotherapy, radiation therapy and current medications), an IV will be started and you will receive an injection of a radiopharmaceutical.

You will then wait 60-90 minutes for the radiopharmaceutical to distribute itself throughout your body. Movement, reading, or any other activity during that time is restricted. You will relax in one of our two uptake suites. After that, you will be escorted to the imaging camera. A brief scan will be taken using the CT part of the scanner to provide a picture of your anatomy, which will take about 5 minutes. Then, the PET scan pictures will be taken. This will last anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the type of scan that is right for you. If diagnostic CT images are needed, these pictures will be taken following the PET scan.

Lying down, the table will move you through a gantry (opening shaped like a large ring) which houses the x-ray tube and a set of detectors. Images are acquired by detectors which x-ray your body. The computer processes this information to form an image that the board-certified radiologists at Central Georgia Diagnostics will review and interpret.

AVERAGE TIME FOR THIS EXAM:
Approximately two to three hours

WHEN WILL I GET THE RESULTS OF THE EXAM?
The results will be given to your referring physician as soon as the images are interpreted by a Board Certified Radiologist

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?
As always, please let your doctor or the PET technologist know of any concerns or questions you may have prior to this exam. It is our goal to ensure you have an accurate and comfortable exam.

  • 1. Nothing to eat 6 hours prior to your exam
    No breakfast should be eaten if you have an appointment before noon.
  • 2. Please refrain from exercising 24 hours prior to the exam.
  • 3. High protein, low carbohydrate meal the night before your test
    Dinner: steak, baked chicken, fish, cheese, asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms.
    No pasta, potatoes, rice or bread.
  • 4. You can drink water up to the time you arrive for your test.
  • 5. You may take all your medicine as usual.
  • 6. Diabetic patients are requested to call the center for special instructions.
  • 7. If you feel you will need sedation for claustrophobia, please contact you Doctor for a prescription prior to your appointment. It is important you are able to lie still during your exam.