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Patient
information guide : Printer
Friendly | PDF
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.
Are
you a new patient?
Save
time by printing and filling out our new patient packet : PDF
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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. |
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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
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