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PET
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Frequently Asked Questions - PET
What is Positron Emission Tomography
PET)?
PET, or "Positron Emission Tomography" is a state-of-the-art
imaging technology that uses small amounts of radioactive
pharmaceuticals (radioisotopes) to make images of the human
body or disease process. Most procedures use a glucose
(sugar) labeled with a short-lived radioactive material.
Unlike, conventional CT, MRI, or X-ray, PET scans provide
"functional" or "metabolic" information of organ tissues.
Obtaining this "functional" information gives the physician
an excellent tool in :
How long
does the procedure take?
The total time required will be 2 - 3 hours. After the injection
of the radiopharmaceutical, you will wait up to one hour in a
comfortable environment for the material to circulate in your
body. The whole body imaging procedure will take 45 min. - 1
hour.
How do I
prepare for the procedure?
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You SHOULD NOT eat or drink
anything but water for 12 hours before your exam.
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Medications can be taken on your
normal schedule unless your physician has directed you
otherwise.
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Special considerations are made for
diabetic patients regarding diet, insulin, and procedure
preparation.
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Please wear comfortable, warm
clothing since the scan area is maintained at a cool
temperature for the equipment. In most situations, clothing
will not need to be removed.
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Please bring your current health
insurance ID information as well as any other radiology
exams (i.e., CT, MRI, X-ray) that you have been instructed
to bring.
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Please
call for more instructions.
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Are there
any side effects?
The radioactive pharmaceutical you will receive is very safe and
there are no known side effects. There is limited radiation
exposure involved that is similar to other Nuclear Medicine or
Radiology procedures.
Who will
be performing my exam?
Austin PET & Imaging Centers prides themselves on maintaining highly
competent, well trained technical staff. An experienced Nuclear
Medicine technologist who will work closely with the radiologist
and clerical staff to provide the highest quality service
possible will perform your procedure.
How is
the scan performed?
A short-lived radiopharmaceutical, specifically designed for use
with PET imaging, will be injected into your arm. The procedure
will begin after an "uptake period" of 45-60 minutes depending
on the type of examination being ordered. There are no side
effects from the injection and you will be asked to rest quietly
during the "uptake period." The scan itself will take
approximately one hour.
You will be
asked to lie comfortably on the imaging table while the scanner
detects the concentration of the glucose within the body and
generates an image by use of the computer. The amount of time
involved to complete your scan will depend on the type of
procedure your physician has ordered. The PET staff will provide
you with this information at the time of your scan.
Who
interprets PET scans?
After completion of the exam, the technical staff will "process"
the information and prepare it for review. A radiologist, with
extensive training and experience in the field of
Radiology/Nuclear Medicine, will use a computer to analyze the
images.
When will
the results be available?
After completion of your exam, the technical staff will
"process" the information and prepare it for interpretation. A
radiologist with training and expertise in the field of PET and
other correlative imaging studies will interpret the images the
following day. A typed report will be forwarded to your
physician within 1-2 days.
Note: It is important that we have your outside films at the
time of the PET scan in order to issue the report in a timely
manner.
You MUST obtain your results through the physician that ordered
your exam.
If you have any
other question please click here
to contact us.
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