PET scanning can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and to help plan for surgery and radiation therapy. The scanner looks very similar to a CT scanner and is open at both ends.
It is open at both ends and the table moves through the opening. Once in the opening, a quiet camera scans your body.
You will be able to see outside of the tube during most of the procedure. It is much less confining than an MRI. It is also very quiet and comfortable. Most claustrophobic patients have no difficulty with the procedure.
MRI, CT and PET scans can cause claustrophobia because being in such a confined space can create feelings of limited control, isolation from others and major restriction of movement.
You'll lie on an exam table that slides in and out of the PET/CT scanner. This scanner is shaped like a doughnut. The doughnut or tunnel opening is about 30 inches in diameter. During the scan, which usually takes about 30 minutes, you must remain still.
Scanning the whole body all at once
PET (positron emission tomography) is an extremely safe and powerful method for imaging inside the body, used to evaluate organs and other tissues for potential diseases, including cancer.
Before your PET/CT 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.
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.
Due to the unique way a PET-MRI scanner works, a loud, banging noise will be heard while the actual scanning is taking place.
During the imaging scan, you will be required to lie flat with your arms raised above your head. If you think you will be unable to keep your arms above your head for approximately 35 minutes, please notify the technologist, and they may accommodate you.
However, a CT scanner provides benefits in nearly every other area of consideration, including: Takes much less time than MRI scans. CT scans are more affordable and accessible. Reduces risk of the patient experiencing claustrophobia and anxiety.
During the scan you must be very still so that the images aren't blurred. It takes about 30 minutes to complete a PET-CT scan and 45 minutes for a PET-MRI scan. The machine makes buzzing and clicking sounds. The test is painless.
This advanced nuclear imaging technique combines a PET scan and a computed tomography scan (CT) into one machine. A CT scan is similar to traditional X-rays. However, it takes pictures in thin slices from different angles. A computer is used to compile these thin slices and create a 3D picture of the X-rayed area.
You will likely lie on your back, but you may need to lie on your stomach or side. This depends on what part of your body needs to be scanned. Sometimes a PET-CT scan is used to plan radiation therapy to treat the cancer. In this case, your body position will be very important.
The major drawback to standard PET is that the images are of substantially lower resolution than, for example, those of CT and MRI, and PET is generally poor at delineating anatomic detail.
You will need to wait at the facility for one to two hours so your body can absorb the tracer, and you should rest quietly during this period. Before the scan, you will have the opportunity to ask your technologist any questions you may have about the procedure.
Avoid exercising 24 hours before the scan. Follow a special diet for 12 to 24 hours before the scan. Don't drink or eat anything, except water, for 6 hours before the scan.
How long does a PET scan take? A PET scan will take about 60 to 90 minutes for the radiotracer to start working, depending on what type of information your doctor is looking for. Once you're ready to start the scan, you'll be asked to lie on your back on a platform.
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. Your scan results will not be available immediately.
Though most cancers are picked up on PET CT, there are a few which do not. The most important of these would be cancer of stomach (signet cell type). In such cases performing this test would be waste. However, there are cancers which are very sensitively detected which include lymphoma, GIST, etc.
Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for 6 hours before the exam. You may drink water, as much water as you can would be helpful, until arrival. Routine medications may be taken, unless you have been instructed otherwise.
If a PET scan is not funded by Medicare, patients have to pay between $800 and $1000.
Your PET/CT technologist will prepare your images for the radiologist, who will then forward the results to your physician within 24-48 hours after the procedure. Your doctor will then meet with you to discuss the results and answer any questions you may have.
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.