What is a PET/CT scan?
 

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging is a technique that uses small molecules with a small amount of radioactivity to look at the chemistry taking place in your body. Your physician is using this information to help diagnose and manage your disease. Your physician uses it when other information is needed after regular x-rays, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, or laboratory procedures have been obtained. A PET scanner is similar to a CT scanner in appearance. The pictures it takes show the utilization or metabolism of a small amount of a radioactive material such as sugar in your body. The radioactive (fluorine -18 fluorodeoxyglucose -FDG) dose you will receive is injected into a vein. Your radiation exposure is minimal (very small). The pictures for the PET scan usually take 15 - 90 minutes, depending on the areas of the body included on the scan . For these pictures you will need to lie flat on your back and be still. Images from your PET scan are reviewed by nuclear medicine physicians and correlated with your history and other available x-rays and studies.

If your appointment time is before 1:00 pm, you should eat a low sugar diet the evening before the PET/CT scan. No food after midnight.
If your appointment time is after 1:00 pm, you may east a low sugar breakfast prior to 7:00 am.
You cannot eat or drink anything 4 hours prior to your appointment time. You may only drink clear, unflavored water.
You may take your medicines with water as long as the medicine does not contain any sugar. Inform the technologist if you have any allergies.
If you are diabetic, do not take any diabetic medication for 4 hours prior to your appoinment time. Your glucose has to be below 200 mg/dl for us to perform the study.
If you have any questions concerning your diabetic medication or allergies pleas call us at 919-684-7714.

If you have x-rays, CTs, MRIs, or nuclear medicine scans, please bring them with you or let us know which Duke physician they have been given or sent to. Upon arrival at the PET facility, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your medical history and current medications. You can bring your favorite tapes or CDs to listen to during your study. If you need medications for pain, anxiety, or claustrophobia please bring them with you to take prior to the scan. Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes

A nurse or nuclear medicine technologist will take you to an injection room. After the exam is explained, you will be weighed and have your glucose checked via a finger stick. An IV will be placed and you will received your  injection.   The tracer will take 45-120 minutes to travel through your body and accumulate in the tissues. During this time, you will be asked to rest quietly in a dark room and avoid talking and significant movement. Immediately before the scan you will be asked to use the bathroom.
The scan will take 15-45 minutes.
Depending on which procedure your doctor ordered, we may be giving you IV contrast (CT dye) during your scan. If so, you will need lab work drawn, and be asked to fill out a medical questionaire, prior to your PET/CT exam. You may also be asked to drink oral contrast for your exam.
You may listen to music during the scan. We have a library of music, or you may bring your own CDs.

There are no side effects fron the PET/CT exam.  We recommend you resume your normal diet after the exam and you should drink plenty of fluids for the next few days.

The PET/CT scan will give your physician information that is not available from other imaging studies. The other imaging studies give information on anatomy such as physical size and structure of your organs and bones. PET shows your body utilizing or metabolizing the radioactive glucose that is injected in your vein. It helps your physician diagnose and manage your disease.

You are exposed to a small amount of radiation that is not considered to be a threat to your health. Pregnant or lactating women should not have a PET scan without discussing the risk with your doctor.

Images from your scan will be reviewed by a physician who specializes in PET and CT imaging.  The images will be correlated with your history and any previous studies.  If you have any x-ray, CT, MR, or nuclear medicine scans from another institution, please bring them with you.
The results of your PET/CT scan will be available to your ordering physician within on business day.