Frequently Asked Questions

General PET/CT Scan FAQs

To begin your appointment on time, patients should arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment time to complete necessary paperwork. Please allow 2 hours for the PET/CT imaging exam.

There are no known side effects or adverse reactions to radiotracers. Only a single, small intravenous injection is required. The medication is not a contrast agent or dye; therefore, the medicine will not harm the kidneys. While everyone has a different tolerance to small injections, most people find the process virtually pain free.

Our PET/CT scanner can accommodate patients up to 500 pounds. PET scanner design, materials, and construction have advanced to such a degree that newer PET scanners can accommodate patients of larger sizes and overall weight while older PET scanners cannot. At our facility, the PET/CT scanner is a Siemens Biograph 64-slice PET/CT. The scanner is a large bore 4-ring system with time of flight (TOF). The scanner is composed of Lutetium Oxyorthosilicate (LSO) crystals which are grown specifically for Siemens PET/CT systems.

If you feel you require medication to relax you during your scan, you should consult your physician. We cannot provide medications to patients or staff to monitor the sedated patient. However, an outside prescription can be obtained from your physician.

Oxygen is considered a prescribed medication and therefore we regret that we cannot provide you with oxygen while at our centers. If you need oxygen during your visit with us, please bring your prescribed oxygen with you. However, we do have an oxygen concentrator available.

Patient Preparation FAQs

For your appointment, we want your blood sugar to be regulated below 200 mg/dL. Therefore, we want you to take all your medications as normal. If any of your medications require food, please consume a small amount of protein with your medication such as cheese or peanut butter.

PET/CT scans use a sugar-based agent to provide very high quality and detailed images. To work correctly, our agent must distribute on its own. If you have any calories, such as sugar, within that five-hour timeframe, that will compete with our agent and significantly change the results of your test. Ultimately, this could affect your diagnosis and treatment. However, we understand that accidents happen! If for any reason you do eat or drink anything other than water within this timeframe, please let us know.

For safety purposes, children must be always accompanied by an adult while at our facilities. If you must bring your child to your appointment, please arrange to bring an adult along to supervise your child during your exam.

You may take your normal medications, including pain medication, provided you are able to take them with plain water on an empty stomach (without food). If you must take medication with food, please consume a small amount of protein with your medication such as cheese or peanut butter.

FAQs for After PET/CT scan

The technologist is responsible for greeting you, performing the PET scan itself, obtaining the highest quality PET images possible, and of course, making sure you are comfortable throughout the entire process. Once complete, a Board certified and specialty-trained PET radiologist will view your images on a dedicated workstation, compare your images to any prior studies, generate a written report using voice transcription, and electronically transmit this report to your ordering provider within 24 hours.

You may resume normal activity following the scan. If your physician provided you with a sedative, follow the direction of your physician. We can provide a work excuse form if needed.

You may go home when the study is finished and resume your regular diet and medication. You are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to help clear the radioactivity from your body. There is no standard rule for interacting with others following a PET/CT scan. A common principle used is “ALARA”, or “as low as reasonably achievable”. Therefore, if close contact can be avoided with those that may be more susceptible to radiation effects, such as pregnant women and infants under one year of age, this should be done for 6 hours after the examination.