PET FDG Whole Body
Oncological Imaging
Patient Information
Sheet
Important Information
- Inform your physician if you are pregnant
or breast-feeding or have any kidney problems.
- This test is useful for the detection
of the primary cancer site and metastases.
- You will also need to sign a waiver
of financial liability since Medicare and possibly some insurance
companies do not cover every indication for this procedure.
- You will also need to give the Nuclear
Medicine Department at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel
your PET scan appointment.
- If you do not give timely notice, you
will be charged the cost of the PET radiopharmaceutical (approximately
$800.00).
Patient Preparation
- Nothing by mouth (NPO) after midnight.
- Avoid exercise of any type 24 hours
prior to the scan.
- You may be asked to take a cathartic
(laxative/enema) such as Mag Citrate. This will help cleanse the bowel
and provide the nuclear medicine physician with better images for
interpretation.
- An intravenous line will be placed
for hydration and medication administration.
- Your blood glucose will be checked.
- A urinary catheter may be also used.
Procedure
- A blood glucose will be drawn.
- An intravenous line will be started.
- You may also have a urinary catheter
placed.
- An injection of a radiotracer will
be given through the intravenous line.
- Approximately thirty to sixty minutes
later a PET scan will be performed. A special detector called a PET
gamma camera for the scan will image you.
- You will be asked to place your arms
above your head and lie still for 30 minutes. Two or three scans taking
30 minutes will be performed.
Further Information
Contact Terre Haute Medical Laboratory
Nuclear Medicine at 812.238.7542
