What is a PET scan?

PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography. PET is used to help the diagnosis and management of many diseases. These include cancer, epilepsy and heart disease.

Using a form of radioactive glucose (sugar), we are able to see how the cells in your body are functioning.

Preparation

Please let us know if you have diabetes, because this will affect the scan. You will need to be given special instructions.

If your appointment is before 1:00pm you will need to fast from midnight (nothing to eat and no sugary drinks from midnight). If your appointment is after 1:00pm you can have a light sugar-free breakfast prior to 7:00am (example: poached egg on toast, toast with vegemite, tea/coffee with no sugar).

All patients need to drink 3-4 glasses of water before they come in for their scan.

You may be required to have a laxative on the day before your scan; you will be given instructions if this is necessary.

Procedure

When you arrive in the department you will have an intravenous line (drip) inserted into a vein and your blood glucose level will be assessed.

At this point you may need to have a catheter put into your bladder to drain urine. You may also be given something which will make you sleepy. If so, you will need someone to drive you home. If either of these are required, you will be notified before your appointment.

You will then be given an injection of a radiotracer (radioactive glucose) and asked to rest quietly for about an hour. The PET scan will take approximately a further one hour.

Are there any side effects?

There are no side effects from the PET scan. However, if you need to have a sedative you will be sleepy and unable to drive for the rest of the day.

How long will the procedure take?

The PET scan will take 2-3 hours.

The radiologist / nuclear medicine physician will look at the images and provide a report to your referring doctor.

Results

PET scanning is a test that needs to be reviewed in the context of your CT scan or MRI. It will not usually be possible to give you a ‘take-with’ report.

Please bring any previous x-rays with you on the day of your examination

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