PET

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes with no metal. You should not eat for six hours before the scan. You will be encouraged to drink water. Your doctor will instruct you regarding the use of medications before the test.

Note: Diabetic patients should ask for any specific diet guidelines to control glucose levels during the day of the test.

When you arrive, we will take a review of your medical history and any past exams.

You will receive a radiopharmaceutical injection. The amount of radiation you will receive is about the same as any other nuclear medicine procedure. You should not feel any side effects from the material. In all cases, little or no radioactivity will remain in your body approximately 6 hours after injection.

For most studies, you will have to wait for the radiopharmaceutical to distribute itself – typically an hour. During this time you will be asked to relax. Imaging time varies depending on your height, weight and the area to be scanned.