PET/CT

Preparing for your PET/CT

Pregnancy:  Notify your physician if you may be pregnant.

Medications:  Continue taking medications unless otherwise instructed.

Diabetic:  If you are diabetic, contact us for further prep instructions prior to your scheduled appointment.

Meals:  The PET/CT scan requires a 12-hour fast and a very low-carbohydrate diet for your last meal the night prior to your exam.

Acceptable to eat & drink:  

-Protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish, eggs), hard cheeses, non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, spinach), tofu

-Water

Not acceptable to eat & drink:

-Carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread, fruit, potatoes, other starches), cereal, sugar

-Alcohol, juices, sodas, coffee

PET/CT

PET/CT is the most powerful tool in the detection of disease and in the staging of cancer.

PET (Positron Emmission Tomography) is a non-invasive procedure that helps to detect changes in cell activity.

CT (Computed Tomography) is a highly detailed scan of the internal anatomy, which reveals the location, size and shape of the diseased cellular activity.

By the injection of a radiotracer prior to the scan and the fusion of the PET and CT images, a trained Radiologist will be able to identify and characterize abnormal molecular activity that will aid in the patient’s therapeutic management course.