PET/CT Patient Information

Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography (PET/CT) images can provide important information about many conditions affecting the heart, brain, and other organs, which will help your doctor plan appropriate treatment for you. PET/CT images are different than those obtained with conventional X-ray, CT, Ultrasound or MRI. PET shows the function of the body and organs or how they work. CT shows the structures of the body or how the organs look.

In other words, unlike most other imaging techniques, PET/CT provides information about the structure and function of your organs.

Radiopharmaceutical Information

In a PET scan, a radioactive material (tracer) is introduced into the body by injection. The amount of tracer used is carefully selected to provide the least amount of radiation exposure to the patient but ensure an accurate test. A special camera is used to take images of your body.

How Does the Procedure Work?

To begin the procedure, a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected into your bloodstream.

There is no danger to you from this injection. Glucose (also known as sugar) is a common substance every cell in your body needs in order to function. Radioactive glucose must pass multiple quality control measures before it is used for any patient injection. The radiation exposure associated with PET is similar to that associated with a conventional CT scan.

After the injection, you will wait approximately one hour while the injected material is distributed throughout your body.

You will be asked to lie on a table that passes slowly through the scanner. The PET/CT scanner resembles a CT scanner, but has a larger opening. Some people fall asleep during the scan.

Can I Eat or Drink Before My Scan?

This will depend on the type of study; however, typically you will be asked not to eat or drink anything except water four to six hours prior to your scan.

How Much Time Should I Allow?

You can expect to be in the scanning facility for 1 1/2 to three hours. The actual scan itself usually takes less than 30 minutes.

What Should I Do To Prepare?

For your comfort and peace of mind, please be sure to:

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, or if you are a nursing mother.
• Wear comfortable clothing and no large metal objects.
• Tell your doctor if you are diabetic.
• You may wear hearing aids, glasses or dentures to the scanning facility. However, leave valuables at home or in your patient room.
• Take any prescribed medications on the day of your test unless instructed not to do so. Please bring a list of your medications with you to your exam.
• Avoid strenuous exercise one day prior to your scan.
• Avoid all beverages with caffeine and sugar.

How Will I Feel Afterward?

You should feel fine. There are no side effects from the injected material. If you have a heart scan, you may feel flushed afterward.

How Do I Get My Results?

After your PET/CT scan, your images are sent to a physician who specializes in the review of these images. This physician will prepare a report that is shared with your doctor (the doctor who ordered your PET/CT exam). Your doctor will consider this information and is responsible for contacting you with the results. He or she can answer any questions you may have about your results at that time.

Post-Procedure Care

As part of your PET/CT scan today, you were given an injection of a radioactive material in order to create diagnostic images of your body. In general, there are no restrictions on your daily routine after the test since greater than 90 percent of the radioactivity has left the body or decomposed before you leave the facility. However, drink plenty of water (an extra 64 ounces of water). The extra water will cause you to void (urinate) frequently (this is desired) which will aid in eliminating the radioactive material from your body.

Your injection required a puncture through your skin. Even though proper steps were taken to prevent infection as a result of this skin puncture, an infection in this area is possible. Please seek medical care if:

• The injection site becomes red, painful to the touch, or hot to the touch.
• A lump that was not present when you finished your scan develops at the injection site, or a small lump that was present becomes larger over time.

Information for Breast Feeding Females

Some of the radioactivity that you will be given for your test or treatment may deposit in breast milk and be transferred to a breast feeding baby or child resulting in unnecessary exposure to radiation. If you are breast feeding, it is our policy to give you instructions and recommendations on interrupting breast feeding.

The technologist or staff physician will speak to you about the particular material you will receive and the time that we recommend you not breast feed.

Failure to interrupt breast feeding for any radiopharmaceutical may have no consequences for your child; however, it is our practice that unnecessary radiation exposure is avoided whenever practical.

Ask Questions or Report Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns related to the imaging procedure that you had done today, please e-mail quality@dmshg.com or call 800.437.4628 and ask for the Quality Improvement Department. Unresolved concerns can be reported to The Joint Commission by calling 800.994.6610 or by going through their website, www.jointcommission.org.