How to Prepare for Your PET Scan
PET scans are safe and painless. During your exam, you will be injected with a colorless, radioactive liquid called F-18 FDG. The radiation exposure is safe, less than required for a conventional CT scan, and has no side effects.
Please follow these directions as you prepare for your procedure. You will be contacted one to two days prior to your scheduled PET scan for further instruction and information.
- Please do not eat for four hours before your test. You are permitted
to drink water.
- Please wear comfortable clothing. Avoid under-wire bras, girdles,
metal snaps or pins. Please leave valuables at home.
- If you are diabetic, your nurse will provide you with instructions
related to your diabetic medications the day of your scan. These instructions
may vary depending on the time your test is scheduled.
- If you take Lasix or any type of diuretic, you will be instructed
not to take it until after the test is completed.
If you are on any medications for seizures, please inform the nurse or technologist. All other medications should be taken on your usual schedule.
- Please bring the following items to the exam:
- insurance cards
- referral forms
- current list of medications
- any requested X-rays or films
- the order for your test
A certified nuclear medicine technologist and a registered nurse will perform your test. If you have any questions before your exam, call 866-235-7226, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Your test will take approximately 3 hours.
- Your blood sugar levels will be checked. (If your levels are elevated,
your nurse will administer insulin as recommended by your physician, then
recheck the levels.)
- Depending on the type of test, a urinary catheter may be inserted.
- Your nurse will start your IV.
- Your will receive an injection of the radioactive material.
- You will remain lying down, resting comfortably and quietly, while
the radioactive material circulates in your body for 45 to 60 minutes.
- Prior to the start of the scan, your IV will be removed and you will
be asked to use the bathroom.
- You will be positioned on the imaging table.
- Lying on the imaging table, you will slowly pass through the scanner.
This will take approximately 45 to 60 minutes. You will be asked to remain
very still.
- The scanner will pick up information from the body, which will be
reassembled through a computer to create an image of your body.
- After the technologist reviews the images, the procedure is complete.
- After the procedure, you will be asked to drink a lot of fluids, and to double flush the toilet for 24 hours.
If you cannot keep your appointment, you must give at least 24 hours notice of your cancellation. This is very important because the medication used for your test will be specially ordered and prepared the day before your procedure is scheduled.
