Your physician has ordered a PET/CT Scan (Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) for you. PET/CT imaging can help your doctor plan appropriate treatment for your medical condition. The following are some instructions to allow us to do the best possible scan for you and your physician.

1)      Fasting:
     a.       No Food for four (4) hours prior to your appointment until after the PET/CT scan.
     b.       Water is permissible.

2)      Medications :
     a.       You may take any medications that you need to take with water.
     b.       If you are taking diabetic medication, see comments below in #6.

3)      Last meal prior to scan:
     a.       We encourage a high protein, low carbohydrate meal for the last meal prior to your scan, as this will provide a better quality scan.
     b.       If your last meal prior to the PET scan is breakfast.
                     i . Possible choices include cottage cheese, eggs (or egg whites), ham, bacon or sausage.
                     ii. No juice or sweeteners.
     c.        If your last meal prior to the PET scan is dinner:
                     i. Possible choices include steak, chicken, or fish.
     d.       Foods to avoid are pasta, bread and rice.
     e.       Avoid anything containing sugar, including beverages, cough drops, etc.

4)      Drinking extra water:
     a.       Drink at least 3 large glasses of water the night before the exam .
     b.       Drink an additional 3 large glasses the day of your exam .

5)      Exercise:
     a.       Do not do any heavy exercise for 48 hours prior to the scan, in order to decrease muscle activity on the scan.

Prior CT or PET scans :
     a.       If you have a prior CT or PET scan which was not performed at New Century Imaging, The Imaging Center at Newman or Hackensack University Medical Center, please bring the CT or PET scan (or copies) with you the day of your PET CT scan.

6) Diabetic patients :
     a.       If you are diabetic, please let our office know at the time of scheduling, so we can coordinate with your doctor any medication orders on the day of your scan.

7) What to expect :
     a.       How long does the scan take?
                     i. You can expect to be at New Century Imaging for approximately 2 hours. This actual scan time is variable depending on the medical condition being evaluated.
     b.       Injection:
                     i. To begin your procedure, a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a small vein, usually in the arm.
                     ii. There is no danger to your from this injection and you will only feel a small needle stick.
                     iii. After the injection, you will wait approximately one (1) hour, while the injected material is distributed throughout your body. You will be in a quiet room and may read or watch TV or even bring your own video tape.
                     iv. 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 larger opening.
                     v. There are no side effects from the injected sugar.

8) Results :          
     a.      Please coordinate directly with your referring physician to receive your PET CT results.