   |
Clinician Resources |
| HOME | | | ABOUT US | | | SCHEDULING INFORMATION |
| | ABOUT YOUR EXAM |
| | OFFICE LOCATIONS |
| | PATIENT EDUCATION |
| | CONTACT US |
PET/CT
The fusion of two sophisticated scanning technologies, positron emission tomography and computed tomography, PET/CT shows both metabolic function and anatomical detail in a single exam. This integration provides more accurate information for diagnosing the presence and extent of disease, prescribing treatment and tracking therapy progress.
PET/CT is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools available today for detecting diseases before anatomical changes or medical symptoms occur. Its imaging capabilities permit accurate diagnosis, staging and monitoring for a variety of cancers. In addition, PET/CT provides important diagnostic information on heart disease and neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
PET/CT Exam Guidelines
Preparation
- Prior to your scheduled appointment, WIS will call you to discuss specific instructions, review your health and insurance information and answer any questions.
- For your convenience, print out and complete the appropriate Patient Forms, including Patient Registration and Patient History. Bring them with you to your appointment.
- If you’ve had an allergic reaction to a contrast agent in any prior imaging exam, please notify our staff before your appointment.
- DO NOT do any strenuous activities, heavy lifting or exercise 24 hours prior to your exam. Excessive muscular activity may interfere with the interpretation of your study.
- Continue to take prescribed medications (with water) on the day of the exam, unless instructed otherwise by your physician.
- Do not eat or drink anything except water for at least 12 hours prior to the exam as test results are affected by your blood sugar. Also, do not chew gum. Please follow a protein diet with no carbohydrates for 24 hours prior to beginning your PET/CT exam preparation. (Click here for dietary suggestions.)
- Be well hydrated; drink plenty of water
the day before and the day of your exam.
- If you are a diabetic, please notify our staff to obtain special
instructions.
- If you take insulin to control your diabetes, you will be scheduled
for an early morning appointment since you must withhold taking your insulin
prior to the exam.
- Please bring all of your prior examination films or studies
(CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET, etc.) with you on the day of your exam.
- Wear warm,
comfortable clothing free of metal zippers, snaps, etc.
- Leave your valuables
at home. All jewelry, hair pins and clips must be removed prior to the exam.
- Patients weighing over 400 pounds, or females who are pregnant or breast
feeding cannot be scanned.
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your exam.
What to Expect During the Exam
- PET/CT exams are completely painless with no side effects.
- When
you arrive, our PET/CT Technologist will discuss
the procedure with you and answer any questions.
- Plan on spending a total of 2-3 hours at WIS. The actual scan
takes approximately 20-40 minutes. The scan may be longer if your
doctor has ordered one or more contrast CT scans to accompany your
PET/CT scan.
- Your blood sugar will be tested and if the levels are acceptable,
the procedure will begin.
- A small IV will be started in your arm for an injection of a
small amount of radioactive glucose or sugar. (Technically called
a radiopharmaceutical FDG—a fluoride radioisotope bound up
to a high molecular weight glucose.)
- You will rest in a special quiet area for 45 minutes to 1 hour
as the FDG circulates throughout the body.
- After emptying your bladder, you will lie down on a comfortable
scanner bed.
- The table will move slowly through the donut-shaped PET/CT scanner
as it acquires the information needed to generate diagnostic images.
- You will be asked to lie still and breathe normally during the scan because movement can interfere with results.
- Your PET/CT will be reviewed to make certain that all images
are complete and no delay imaging is required.
- After your scan, you will get up from the scanner bed
and check out with the receptionist.
What to Expect After the Exam
- You may leave
as soon as the exam is completed.
- If you were given Valium before or during
the scan, you will need someone to drive you home.
- Your normal activity and
eating habits may be resumed.
- Drinking plenty of water and other fluids after
the exam will help flush the FDG from your body.
- Your PET/CT scan will be interpreted
by a WIS board certified radiologist with specialized training
in PET/CT imaging.
- Your referring physician will receive a report and pictures
detailing the findings of your exam within 48 hours. You should
contact your doctor to discuss the results.
|
||||||||||||