PET imaging is a diagnostic imaging tool. PET imaging is a process by which the biologic functions of the body are able to be imaged. By using a small amount of a biological marker the PET scan procedure can assess areas ofabnormal glucose metabolism in the body.
What is a PET Scan?
This change in the metabolismmay be seen before a physical change can be seen on a CT or MRI. The latest advancement in imaging has combined the PET scan procedure with a CT scan (PET/CT) allowing areas of interest to be more accurately localized.
NorthShore University HealthSystem currently offers the PET/CTscan.
It is useful to help in diagnosis of:
Oncology- to determine the location of tumors and the extent of tumor growth
Neurology- to aid in diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, dementia,stroke, brain tumorsand seizures
(Video) How to Prepare for Your PET/CTCardiology- to determine the viability of the heart muscle
PET Scan Procedure
- At the beginning of the PET scan procedure, you will sit in a chair and receive an injection of a small amount of radioactive material called FDG in a vein in your arm.This will not make you feel differently at all.
You will be asked to sit quietly for a period of time, usually about 30-60 minutes. During this time you must sit and relax and will not be able to get up and walk around, talk to friends, or read. This allows the tracer to travel throughout your body while it is in a relaxed state.
(Video) PET Scan: A guide to How to Prepare for PET-CT ScanYou will be asked to lie down on a table which will move you through the PET/CT scanner. The machine has a larger opening than an MRI, and it does not make any sound. A PET scan procedure takes about an hour to complete.
PET Scan Preparation & Diet
When scheduling a PET scan, it's important to keep in mind that your physician will require you to follow a strict PET scan preparation diet up to 12 hours before your appointment. A typical PET scan diet is as follows:
12 hours before your appointment:
- You will be asked to eat a low carbohydrate diet. Foods that can be eaten include: meat, hard cheese, tofu, eggs, butter and vegetables with no starch.
- Some foods that are NOT allowed include: cereal, pasta, milk, breads and other sugars.
- If you are scheduled in the late afternoon and can eat breakfast before the scan, it must be a low carbohydrate diet as well.
6 hours before your appointment:
- For all PET scan diets, you will be asked to stop eating 6 hours before your appointment; however, you may continue to drink water.
- You will also be asked to bring copies of any recent CT scans or MRI's done outside of NorthShore University HealthSystem.
How will I learn the results?
After the PET scan procedure, images will be checked by a physician. Shortly thereafter you will be made aware of the results.
Does insurance cover the cost of the test?
PET/CT imaging is usually covered by Medicare and private insurance companies. Private insurance usually follow Medicare guidelines but many will cover other indications for a PET/CT scan. Contact your insurance for further information.
Listed below are some of the indications that Medicare will cover for a PET/CT scan.
- Alzheimer's
- Breast Cancer
Staging and Restaging
Monitoring response to treatment - Cervical Cancer
Initial Staging - Colorectal Cancer
Diagnosis, Staging and Restaging - Esophageal Cancer
Diagnosis, Staging and Restaging - Head and Neck Cancer (Excluding Central Nervous system & some Thyroid)
Diagnosis, Staging and Restaging - Lymphoma
Diagnosis, Staging and Restaging - Melanoma
Diagnosis, Staging and Restagin - Myocardial ViabilityInitial diagnosis of following inconclusive SPECT
- Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Diagnosis, Staging and Restaging - Ovarian Cancer
Restaging - Refractory Seizures
Pre-surgical evaluation - Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
Characterization
FAQs
What foods to avoid before PET scan? ›
12 hours before your appointment:
You will be asked to eat a low carbohydrate diet. Foods that can be eaten include: meat, hard cheese, tofu, eggs, butter and vegetables with no starch. Some foods that are NOT allowed include: cereal, pasta, milk, breads and other sugars.
Do not eat or drink anything, except water, for 6 hours before the exam. You may drink water, as much water as you can would be helpful, until arrival. Routine medications may be taken, unless you have been instructed otherwise.
Why are there food restrictions before a PET scan? ›The PET scan helps to detect the signs of high glucose consumption by cells. Therefore, having food before a PET scan is not recommended as it tends to throw your body's glucose levels out of balance and provide inaccurate results.
Can I drink coffee the day before a PET scan? ›24 HOURS PRIOR TO TEST: No strenuous exercise. No alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, coffee or tea.
What can throw off a PET scan? ›- High blood glucose levels in diabetics.
- Caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco consumed within 24 hours of the procedure.
- Excessive anxiety (may affect brain function)
- Medicines such as insulin, tranquilizers, and sedatives.
- Follow a low carbohydrate diet for 48 hours.
- Do not eat foods with more than 5g of carbohydrates per serving, no more than 15g of carbohydrates per meal and no more than 50g of carbohydrates per day.
- Do not eat for 18 hours.
Can I brush my teeth before a PET/CT scan? Normal brushing without swallowing mouthwash or toothpaste within the four hour preparation timeframe will have no effect on the outcome of your PET/CT scan.
How long does a PET scan take full body? ›During a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, you lie on a narrow table that slides into a doughnut-shaped hole. The scanner takes about 30 minutes to produce detailed images of metabolic activity in your tissues and organs.
Should you rest after a PET scan? ›In most cases, you will need to rest before and after the injection of the radioactive material. For example, if you are having a brain PET scan, you will lie quietly in a darkened room before and after the injection to make sure your brain remains relaxed and is not stimulated by light, noise or reading.
Why do you have to drink lots of water before a PET scan? ›Drinking water is encouraged to ensure hydration for best test results. Continue to take medications as prescribed. If you are diabetic, ask your doctor about diet and medication, including withholding insulin for 4 hours prior to the exam (with the exception of an insulin pump, which is permitted).
What vegetables can you eat before a PET scan? ›
Recommended foods:
Vegetables: you may eat low-carbohydrate vegetables such as asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chilies, cucumbers, green or wax beans, green peppers, lettuce, mushrooms, olives, onion, tomatoes, summer squash, spinach and turnips.
To get the best results your blood sugar needs to be low so your cells will properly absorb the radioactive sugar. If your body has “too much sugar” (fasting blood sugar over 200) your cells are already “saturated” and your scan will be poor quality.
Can you pee before a PET scan? ›If you're having a brain PET-CT, it is important to limit brain activity before your scan. Your nurse may tell you not to read or listen to music while you're waiting for your scan. Your care team will ask you to urinate (pee) just before your scan.
What can you not do after a PET scan? ›Drinking plenty of fluid after the scan can help flush it from your body. As a precaution, you may be advised to avoid prolonged close contact with pregnant women, babies or young children for a few hours after a PET scan, as you will be slightly radioactive during this time.
Can you eat fruit before a PET scan? ›Food that should be avoided Before PET Scan :
Fruits and Vegetables- All fruits, potatoes, corn, carrots, legumes (other beans), tomatoes, peas, squash, veggie burgers.
You shouldn't experience any side effects after having a PET scan and can usually go home the same day. The results of your scan won't usually be available on the same day.
What is the biggest disadvantage in using a PET scan? ›The major drawback to standard PET is that the images are of substantially lower resolution than, for example, those of CT and MRI, and PET is generally poor at delineating anatomic detail.
Can I drive after PET scan? ›After the PET-CT scan
You can do normal activities after the scan. This includes driving. The staff will tell you to drink several glasses of water. This helps wash the radioactive substance and dye out of your body.
PET/CT SCAN DIET INSTRUCTIONS
Avoid food and drinks that contain sugar or carbohydrates for at least 24 hours before your scan. This will help to make sure that your images are of the best quality and help prevent having to reschedule your scan because of a blood sugar that is too high.
The radioisotope that is used in PET imaging, fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose or 18F-FDG, is a glucose transporter. This radioisotope will go to any metabolically active areas in the body. If the glucose levels are elevated from food or drink the patient consumed prior to the test, the level of insulin will increase.
How long after a PET scan can I eat? ›
After your PET scan
You can then eat and drink normally. The radiation in the radioactive tracer is very small. Drinking plenty of fluids after your scan helps to flush the radiotracer out of your system.
Specific protocols may vary, but generally a PET scan follows this process: You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, or other objects that may interfere with the scan. If you are asked to remove clothing, you will be given a gown to wear.
Should I take my medication before a PET scan? ›Do not eat or drink for six hours before your test (except plain water with nothing added). Also, do not suck or chew candy, gum, or lozenges. You may take those medications prescribed by your physician prior to your scan.
Can you sleep during a PET scan? ›Then, the patient will be asked to lie on a table that passes slowly through the scanner. The scanner resembles a CT scanner, but has a much larger opening. Some people fall asleep during the scan.
Does a full body PET scan include the head? ›However, with the introduction of intravenous contrast in several PET/CT protocols, entire body coverage (including head) due to availability of the faster scanners, the CT component of the PET/CT study can actually function as an independent CT scan of the brain and it has the potential to obviate the need for a ...
Do you get PET scan results immediately? ›When should I get my PET scan results? A radiologist with specialized training in PET scans will review the images, write a report and send it to your healthcare provider. This process usually takes 24 hours.
How many hours after PET scan are you radioactive? ›Will I be radioactive? Because we use a radioactive tracer, you will be slightly radioactive for the next 24 hours after your scan. After 24 hours all the radioactivity will be gone. Once you leave the imaging center, you may resume all normal activities including holding children.
What are the side effects of PET scan dye? ›PET-CT Precautions
If undergoing a combination PET-CT scan, the iodine-based contrast dye used for the CT component can cause side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, flushing, and mild rash. In rare cases, a serious, all-body allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis may occur.
Routine PET scans are usually acquired with 2 to 3 minutes per bed position, but patients cannot hold their breath for the entire time, especially in view of their impaired health status.
Can I eat yogurt before a PET scan? ›Beginning 24 hours before your test, follow this diet (which is a low carbohydrate diet.) Use the guideline below for menu ideas. Snacks: Celery and peanut butter, light yogurt or cottage cheese.
How can I lower my blood sugar before a PET scan? ›
Take your usual insulin doses with your usual meals the day before your scan. If you take a bedtime dose of insulin, you may take this as ordered, but please be sure to have a high protein snack before your 12-hour fast. Fast for 12 hours before your appointment. You cannot inject insulin on the morning of your scan.
Which cancers do not show up on PET scan? ›Though most cancers are picked up on PET CT, there are a few which do not. The most important of these would be cancer of stomach (signet cell type). In such cases performing this test would be waste. However, there are cancers which are very sensitively detected which include lymphoma, GIST, etc.
Can I take vitamins before PET scan? ›– Do not chew gum, eat candy or mints, or take vitamins. Starting 12 hours before your scan, do not take any dextrose medicines by total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or intravenous (IV) line.
How do you stay calm during a PET scan? ›- Meditate — Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help you stay calm during difficult times. ...
- Exercise — Exercise not only benefits your health, but also improves your mood and reduces stress.
PET scans detect areas of activity (like cell growth) in the body. More radioactive material collects in cancer cells than normal cells and will appear brighter on the image. Not all cancers show up on a PET scan. PET scan results are often used with other imaging and lab test results.
Can you eat the morning of a PET scan? ›drink plenty of water the day before your appointment. PET appointment. You should have nothing to eat or drink except water for at least 4 hours before your appointment time. This includes chewing gum, hard candy, breath mints and tobacco products.
What are high protein foods to eat before a PET scan? ›Recommended foods:
Proteins: you may eat any type of meat (bacon, beef, chicken, ham, hot dogs, pork, salami, sausage, venison, canned meat) or seafood (clams, fish, lobster, scallops, and shrimp). Eggs, cheese, cottage cheese and nuts.
PET/CT SCAN DIET INSTRUCTIONS
Avoid food and drinks that contain sugar or carbohydrates for at least 24 hours before your scan. This will help to make sure that your images are of the best quality and help prevent having to reschedule your scan because of a blood sugar that is too high.
Can I brush my teeth before a PET/CT scan? Normal brushing without swallowing mouthwash or toothpaste within the four hour preparation timeframe will have no effect on the outcome of your PET/CT scan.
Can you eat peanut butter the day before a PET scan? ›Beginning 24 hours before your test, follow this diet (which is a low carbohydrate diet.) Use the guideline below for menu ideas. Snacks: Celery and peanut butter, light yogurt or cottage cheese.
Can you eat right after a PET scan? ›
After your PET scan
You can then eat and drink normally. The radiation in the radioactive tracer is very small. Drinking plenty of fluids after your scan helps to flush the radiotracer out of your system.
Food that should be avoided Before PET Scan :
Fruits and Vegetables- All fruits, potatoes, corn, carrots, legumes (other beans), tomatoes, peas, squash, veggie burgers. Dairy Products- Milk, yogurt, high fat cheese.