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PET Scan Frequently Asked Questions
What is PET?
What is PET used for?
What happens when I arrive for my scan?
How does the PET procedure work?
How long does the procedure take?
How accurate is PET?
How will I feel afterwards?
What should I do to prepare?
When will I know the results of my scan?
What else should I do?
For more information on PET Scans, go to the following links (which will take you out of the Associated Radiologists website):
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/petomography.htm
For more information on PET Scans, insurance coverage, and scheduling, call our PET Hotline 732-548-6800
What is PET?
PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. It is a procedure that produces powerful images of the human body's biological functions. PET scans are safe and can be performed in a few hours as an outpatient procedure. Unlike conventional imaging systems such as x-rays, CTs, ultrasounds and MRIs, PET does not show body structure (anatomy). Instead, PET shows the chemical function (metabolism) of an organ or tissue.
What is PET used for?
PET is used to help diagnose and treat a number of different diseases, including cancer, coronary heart disease and seizure disorders. In cancer applications, PET provides tumor imaging and has proven to be very accurate in identifying the extent of malignant disease.
What happens when I arrive for my scan?
When you arrive for your PET scan, you will be registered by our office personnel and taken to the PET area. There, a technologist will ask you a series of questions regarding your medical history. Next, a small blood sample will be taken to check your blood sugar (glucose) level. The technologist will inject a small amount of radioactive glucose into your bloodstream. This glucose is called a "tracer" and will be distributed throughout your body. There is no danger to you from this injection. Radioactive glucose must pass multiple quality control measures before it is used for any patient injection. In fact, the radiation exposure associated with PET is similar to that of a conventional CT scan.
How does the PET procedure work?
After your injection, you will be asked to relax and remain relatively still for about an hour. Then, you will be asked to lie on a table called a scanning bed. The bed will move slowly through the scanner while it detects the injected tracer. Some people fall asleep during the scan. When the imaging procedure is complete, the scanner sends the resulting information to a computer. The computer generates numerous images that will be reviewed by a specially trained physician. Your doctor will receive a report and picture detailing the findings of your exam.
How long does the procedure take?
You can expect to be in the PET center for two to three hours. The actual scan itself takes far less time and depends on the purpose and type of the study. In most cases, a body scan from the chin to the pelvis area takes about 50 to 60 minutes. Some exams, such as brain or heart procedures, take about 30 minutes to complete.
How accurate is PET?
PET is very accurate in showing the presence or spread of many malignant tumors. For example, it is more accurate in detecting the spread of lung cancer and colon cancer than any other imaging method currently available. A high dose of accuracy has also been demonstrated in evaluating recurrent breast cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, brain cancer, pancreatic cancer, and tumors of the head and neck.
How will I feel afterwards?
You should feel fine after the scan. There are no side effects from the injected tracer. If you have a heart scan, you may feel flushed afterwards.
What should I do to prepare?
- Do not eat anything after midnight the night prior to your scan.
- Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, might be pregnant or are a nursing mother.
- Tell your doctor if you are a diabetic.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Take prescribed medications on the day of your test unless instructed not to do so.
- Wear your hearing aid, glasses or dentures to the PET center. However, leave valuables at home or in your patient room.
- Avoid all beverages with caffeine and sugar.
- If you are diabetic and take oral medications or injections, preparation may be different. the PET HOTLINE will furnish you with further instructions.
When will I know the results of my scan?
The results of your PET scan are read within 24 hours after the scan is completed. You can expect a verbal report to be available to your physician within a day of the scan.
What else should I do?
It is important that your other recent x-ray studies (such as CT or MRI scans) be available for the PET imaging doctor to compare them directly to your PET scan. Your doctor or hospital may send the films and reports from these studies to the PET center or you may be asked to bring them with you to prevent delay in reading your PET scan.
The information provided within this website is not intended as medical advice. It should never be substituted for a consultation with a healthcare professional. Please contact your physician with questions or concerns about your health condition.
Copyrights Associated Radiologists, P.A. 2006
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