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How to Prepare for a PET-CT Scan
Fasting for a minimum of six to eight (6-8) hours (preferably overnight) is
absolutely essential. In addition, a low carbohydrate (bread, potatoes,
pasta, beans, rice, sugar, sweets) and high protein (meat, milk products,
cheese, nuts, Atkin’s) diet the day before imaging helps in improving
the image quality.
Prepare a list, which includes: names of medications you are currently
taking, brief medical history, treatments you have had (Chemotherapy,
Radiation Therapy, Surgery). Download the required forms, fill them to
the best of your knowledge, and bring them with you. You should plan
to be at the facility for 2-3 hours on exam day.
If you had other imaging studies performed such as CT scans, MRI,
ultrasound etc, it is very crucial that the films and reports are made
available to the radiologist who is interpreting the PET/CT scan. These
films and reports will be returned to you or your referring physician, after
review.
You are encouraged to drink 3-4 glasses of water prior to arrival for your
test. Inform the staff performing the test if: you have ever had a reaction
to a contrast agent or iodine in the past, if you have asthma, if you have a
fear of small, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia). The actual scan takes
approximately 35 - 45 minutes lying flat within the scanner. It would be
best to come without any body jewelry.
Medications, other than for management of diabetes can be taken, as
long as they are not required to be taken with meals. You should avoid
vigorous physical exercise the day before, and on the day of the scan,
and until the scan is completed.
If you are diabetic, you should take small, regular meals to keep glucose
under control and continue to take your oral glucose medications or
insulin. Please arrange the timing of the scan such that it is performed at
least 4 hours after your last insulin injection. Patients with diabetes are
often scheduled for the examination in the afternoon, thereby allowing
them to take their morning diabetes medications and breakfast.
Confirm your appointment 24 hours prior to the test. Because of the
extremely high demand for a PET/CT scan, your slot may be given to
another patient.
absolutely essential. In addition, a low carbohydrate (bread, potatoes,
pasta, beans, rice, sugar, sweets) and high protein (meat, milk products,
cheese, nuts, Atkin’s) diet the day before imaging helps in improving
the image quality.
Prepare a list, which includes: names of medications you are currently
taking, brief medical history, treatments you have had (Chemotherapy,
Radiation Therapy, Surgery). Download the required forms, fill them to
the best of your knowledge, and bring them with you. You should plan
to be at the facility for 2-3 hours on exam day.
If you had other imaging studies performed such as CT scans, MRI,
ultrasound etc, it is very crucial that the films and reports are made
available to the radiologist who is interpreting the PET/CT scan. These
films and reports will be returned to you or your referring physician, after
review.
You are encouraged to drink 3-4 glasses of water prior to arrival for your
test. Inform the staff performing the test if: you have ever had a reaction
to a contrast agent or iodine in the past, if you have asthma, if you have a
fear of small, enclosed spaces (claustrophobia). The actual scan takes
approximately 35 - 45 minutes lying flat within the scanner. It would be
best to come without any body jewelry.
Medications, other than for management of diabetes can be taken, as
long as they are not required to be taken with meals. You should avoid
vigorous physical exercise the day before, and on the day of the scan,
and until the scan is completed.
If you are diabetic, you should take small, regular meals to keep glucose
under control and continue to take your oral glucose medications or
insulin. Please arrange the timing of the scan such that it is performed at
least 4 hours after your last insulin injection. Patients with diabetes are
often scheduled for the examination in the afternoon, thereby allowing
them to take their morning diabetes medications and breakfast.
Confirm your appointment 24 hours prior to the test. Because of the
extremely high demand for a PET/CT scan, your slot may be given to
another patient.