A PET scan stands for Positron Emission Tomography and is a type of scan used to evaluate diseases such as cancer within the body. The PET scan evaluates the absorption of radioactive isotopes (that are injected through an IV line) in specific organs or tissues giving radiologists a different perspective of information on a cellular level not available in other modalities such as MRI, CT and X-ray.
Click to download our PET Prep Instructions
What to Expect:
- You will receive a confirmation call from our scheduling staff and be given any prep instructions that may be necessary to your exam (such as fasting)
- You may be asked to change into a gown to avoid artifacts on the images caused by clothing
- You will be taken to a secluded waiting area where you will be able to sit comfortably while the technologist begins your procedure
- The technologist will start an IV line to inject the radioactive tracers and you will be left to sit and relax while the tracers are absorbed into the body
- The technologist will then take you to the scan room and position you on the PET/CT table
- The technologist will leave the room and begin your scan, but you will be able to communicate via an intercom if needed
- The table will move slowly into a tube as the body is being scanned
- After your exam, you may return to your normal routine unless given other instructions by the technologist/radiologist
For more information on PET/CT, please visit www.radiologyinfo.org