The injection of the radioactive material does not make you feel any different or drowsy. There are no sedative drugs or anaesthesia used during this procedure. Your scan results will not be available immediately. Before you leave, the nuclear medicine scientist will tell you when your doctor will have the results.
For some people, being inside the scanner can be an unpleasant experience. Inform the hospital before the day of the scan if you think this may be a problem for you. They may be able to arrange for you to have a sedative to help you relax during the scan.
After the injection, patients wait approximately one hour while the injected material is distributed throughout the body. Then, the patient will be asked to lie on a table that passes slowly through the scanner. The scanner resembles a CT scanner, but has a much larger opening. Some people fall asleep during the scan.
It is important that you be as comfortable and relaxed as possible prior to and during the PET or PET/CT scan. You can take medications such as Valium, Ativan, or pain medications to lessen any anxiety or discomfort you may have.
The scan usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes but you can expect to be in the PET imaging department for between 2 and 3 hours. Before the scan, you should: ask about any food and drink restrictions before your scan.
You can do normal activities after the scan. This includes driving. The staff will tell you to drink several glasses of water. This helps wash the radioactive substance and dye out of your body.
When should I get my PET scan results? A radiologist with specialized training in PET scans will review the images, write a report and send it to your healthcare provider. This process usually takes 24 hours.
You will need to wait nearby as the tracer is absorbed by your body. This usually takes about 1 hour. Then, you will lie on a narrow table, which slides into a large tunnel-shaped scanner.
Please avoid all forms of strenuous exercise and/or physical activity for 24 hours prior to your appointment. Avoid all caffeine and de-caffeinated beverages for 24 hours prior to exam. It is important that you stay well hydrated. Unless you are on fluid restriction, please drink at least eight glasses of plain water.
It is much less confining than an MRI. It is also very quiet and comfortable. Most claustrophobic patients have no difficulty with the procedure. However, if you are severely claustrophobic, you might ask your doctor to consider a mild sedative.
Wear comfortable clothing for the scan. You may also need to change from your regular clothing into a hospital gown. Leave valuables at home, such as jewelry or a watch, so they don't get misplaced. You may need to remove anything that contains metal, such as eyeglasses, dentures, or hearing aids, during the test.
The radioactive tracer gives off very small levels of radiation that go away very quickly. As a precaution, you should avoid close contact with pregnant women, babies and young children for 6 hours after the scan. You need someone to take you home and stay overnight if you've had medicine to help you relax (sedative).
Not all cancers show up on a PET scan. PET scan results are often used with other imaging and lab test results. Other tests are often needed to find out whether an area that collected a lot of radioactive material is non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Your nurse may tell you not to read or listen to music while you're waiting for your scan. Your care team will ask you to urinate (pee) just before your scan.
In general, PET scans may be used to evaluate organs and/or tissues for the presence of disease or other conditions. PET may also be used to evaluate the function of organs, such as the heart or brain. The most common use of PET is in the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.
Can I brush my teeth before a PET/CT scan? Normal brushing without swallowing mouthwash or toothpaste within the four hour preparation timeframe will have no effect on the outcome of your PET/CT scan.
PET scanning can give false results if chemical balances within the body are not normal. Specifically, test results of diabetic patients or patients who have eaten within a few hours prior to the examination can be adversely affected because of altered blood sugar or blood insulin levels.
18F-Fluorodeoxy glucose positron emission tomography‒computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET) can detect malignant lymph nodes of even normal size, thus overcoming one of the major limitations of CT.
Immediately after the PET scan
After your PET scan, you can go on with your normal activities straight away. The injection of the radioactive material does not make you feel any different or drowsy. There are no sedative drugs or anaesthesia used during this procedure.
PET scans can help detect cancer and how far it has spread. PET scans can show solid tumors in the brain, prostate, thyroid, lungs, and cervix. The scans can also evaluate the occurrence of colorectal, lymphoma, melanoma, and pancreatic tumors.
Do I have to pay for a PET scan? There is no cost for most PET scans if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Australia and covered by Medicare. For a limited number of indications that are not approved by Medicare, there can be a charge to the patient.
What happens after the PET scan? After your PET scan, a very small amount of radioactive sugar will remain in your body. So, be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush it out your system. You don't need to follow any special dietary restrictions or guidelines after your PET scan.
What happens after a PET scan? After the test, you can go about your day unless your doctor gives you other instructions. However, because radioactive material will remain in your body for about 12 hours, you'll want to limit your contact with both pregnant women and infants during this time.