Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computerized Tomography (CT) are both standard imaging tools that allow physicians to pinpoint the location of certain abnormalities within the body. PET/CT can be utilized for detecting cancer in the body or abnormalities such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in the brain. The highly sensitive PET scan detects the metabolic signal of actively growing cells in the body and the CT scan provides a detailed picture of the internal anatomy. The benefits of having a combined PET/CT scan are earlier diagnosis, accurate staging, and localization of abnormalities for more precise treatment and monitoring.

BEFORE THE EXAM: It is important that you not eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your exam. We do need for you to drink 24 to 36 ounces of water the night before your procedure. You may take any prescribed medications with water the day of your exam unless instructed by your physician not to do so. We would like for you to abstain from any form of exercise for forty-eight hours prior to your exam. If you are an insulin-dependent diabetic, you cannot take your insulin the day of your procedure. Oral diabetic medication should be taken as usual. Please wear comfortable clothes and arrive on time.

THE EXAM: During the exam, you will be asked to drink two cups of liquid material at different intervals, plus, you will be injected with a radioactive tracer. This tracer is a compound of complex sugars labeled with a short-lived radioisotope. The radiation exposure associated with this procedure is safe. You will be placed in a quiet room by yourself for approximately 60 minutes while the radioactive compound travels throughout your body. Once you have completed the incubation period, a technologist will place you on a scan table, which will slowly pass through the scanner. Please plan on being at our facility for approximately two-three hours.

AFTER THE EXAM: You should feel fine as there are no side effects resulting from the injected tracer or ingested liquid material. Please contact your referring physician for your test results.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION: The following items may exclude you from having your PET/CT exam. Please call our office at 317-715-9999 of any of these apply to you or if you have any questions.

Weight over 350 pounds

Pregnant

Please fill out the enclosed registration and PET/CT questionnaire; this will expedite processes while you are on site. You will also need to bring all of your insurance information.