| PET Scan What is the
procedure?
PET (Positron Emission Tomography) identifies highly metabolically
active cells and pinpoints their exact location by introducing
a
radioactive form of glucose (sugar) into the body. The cells
which are most metabolically active, take up the most radioactive
glucose
and produce a “hot spot” on the image. This is very
useful in diagnosing and staging certain cancers such as lung,
breast,
colorectal, esophageal, head and neck cancer, melanoma and lymphoma.
It is also approved for use in the evaluation of a solitary lung
nodule and severe seizures.
The state-of –the-art PET/CT scanner available at Great
Neck Imaging combines PET images with CT images to provide
the doctor
with the most accurate and detailed images available.
The
day before the exam:
Please do not eat or
drink anything containing calories 12 hours prior to your examination.
For example, if your appointment is at 8:15 a.m. please do not
eat after 8:15 p.m. the night before. You may take your normal
medications with water or drink liquids which do not contain sugar
or other caloric substances (e.g., black coffee, diet soft drinks
and water are permitted). The reason we request that you limit
your intake in this manner is to control the level of sugar in
your bloodstream. Recent food intake can interfere with the quality
of images. (If you are diabetic please see below.)
You must refrain from any exercise or stimulation 12 hours prior
to exam.
If you have diabetes (elevated blood sugar) and take insulin, follow
your regular diet (meals) and insulin schedule as prescribed by
your physician. If your diabetes is controlled by tablets, take
all medications as prescribed but have nothing to drink or eat after
midnight.
The
day of the exam:
Comfortable
clothing is advised so that you do not have to change.
If you have had any previous MRI, PET, CT or nuclear medicine studies performed
elsewhere, please bring copies of the films with you on the day of your scan
if at all possible.
How
long should it take?
The total
procedure takes about two hours.
During the
exam:
You will be given
a small injection in your arm and then you will lie in a quiet
room for 45-50 minutes. You should
not move or speak
during this time.
When the appropriate time has passed, you will be brought in the
PET/CT room and asked to lie on the table. The table may move
in and out of the machine taking pictures. The technologist will
watch you through a window and will use an intercom to speak with
you.
After the
exam:
You may resume
your normal diet immediately after the test is completed.
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