Patient information guide
Updated March 5, 2002

Thank you for choosing Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging Centers to perform your P.E.T. examination. We realize you may have questions regarding your upcoming exam and hope this information will help explain the procedure to you. If you have further questions, feel free to call our office At (702) 240 - 1288.

Patient information guide :
Thank you for choosing Steinberg Diagnostic Medical Imaging Centers to perform your P.E.T. examination. We realize you may have questions regarding your upcoming exam and hope this information will help explain the procedure to you. If you have further questions, feel free to call our office At (702) 240 - 1288

What is a P.E.T Scan?
Your physician has ordered a Positron Emission Tomography (P.E.T.) scan for you. P.E.T. images can provide important information about many conditions affecting the heart, brain, and other organs which will help your doctor plan appropriate treatment for you.
P.E.T. images are different than those from more conventional imaging equipment, such as X-ray, CT, Ultrasound, or MRI. These images show what the tissues look like. P.E.T. images contain information about the tissue function.

Common uses of this procedure.
Specifically, P.E.T. scans are used to detect cancer and to examine the effects of cancer therapy by characterizing biochemical changes with the cancer. These scans are performed on the whole body. P.E.T. scans of the heart can be used to determine blood flow to the heart muscle and help evaluate signs of coronary artery disease. Combined with a myocardial metabolism study, P.E.T. scans differentiate non-functioning heart muscle from heart muscle that would benefit from a procedure, such as angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery, which would re-establish adequate blood flow. P.E.T. scans of the brain are used to evaluate patients who have memory disorders of an undetermined cause; who have suspected or proved brain tumors; or who have seizure disorders that are not responsive to therapy, therefore, are candidates for surgery.

How does it work?
To begin the procedure, a small amount of radioactive glucose is injected into your bloodstream.
After the injection, you will wait approximately 30 - 45 min. while the injected material is distributed throughout your body.
Then you 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.

Benefits VS risks of a P.E.T. Scan?

Benefits	Risks
Because P.E.T. allows study of body function, it can help physicians detect alterations in biochemical processes that suggest disease before changes in anatomy are apparent.	The radioactive substance may expose the fetus of patients who are pregnant or the infants of women who are breast-feeding to the radiation. The risk to the fetus or infant should be considered related to the information gain from the potential result of the P.E.T. examination.
Because the radioactivity is very short-lived, your radiation exposure is extremely low. The substance amount is so small that it does not affect the normal processes of the body. If it did, the test results would be unreliable since your doctor would not be sure whether biochemical changes in your body were the result of a disease or the presence of the radioactivity.

Patient Comfort.
Having P.E.T. scan is safe and can be performed in about 2 1/2 hours as an outpatient procedure

Preparation required.
There are no general set instructions for P.E.T. examination. Your physician will give you instructions on how to prepare for your specific exam. Typically, no food or drink anything after
4 hrs the night before your scan. It is important to follow these instructions to ensure the most accurate diagnostic results.
For your comfort and peace of mind, please be sure to:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, or if you are a nursing mother
Wear comfortable clothing
Tell your doctor if you are diabetic
Wear your hearing aid, glasses, or dentures to the P.E.T. center. However, leave valuables at home or in your patient room.
Take any prescribed medications on the day of your test unless instructed not to do so.

After the test.
You should feel fine. There are no side effects from the injected trace.

Results of the test
At SDMI, we have a radiologist on site at all times so the test will be interpreted promptly. The results will be phoned, faxed, mailed, or delivered electronically to the referring physician. He/she will share the results with the patient.

I am ready to schedule an appointment.
To schedule a P.E.T. Scan with SDMI, please call (702) 240 - 1288