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PET Scan

A POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY (PET) scan is a unique imaging test that helps to see how the organs and tissues inside your body are functioning.

Working of a pet scan

A radioactive medicine is produced in a cyclotron and tagged to a natural chemical that could be glucose, water or ammonia. The tagged natural chemical is known as a radiotracer. The radiotracer is then inserted into the human body.

The radiotracer will go to areas inside the body that use the natural chemical. For example, FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose - a radioactive drug) is tagged to glucose to make a radiotracer. The glucose goes into those parts of the body that use glucose for energy and cancers for example, use glucose differently from normal tissue. Hence FDG can show up cancers.

Need of a pet scan

PET scans are generally used alongside CT scans. This helps in getting more data about a health condition of an individual. They are very much useful in finding out how effective the current treatment is.

Pet, a valuable technique in oncology, cardiology and neurology

Oncology

PET scan permits a physician to accurately image many organs of the body with a single scan in order to detect malignancy. PET has demonstrated usefulness in cost-effective whole-body metastatic surveys, avoiding biopsies.

PET scans can show up a cancer, reveal the stage of cancer and as well show whether the cancer has spread. It helps the doctors to decide on the most appropriate cancer treatment, and also on the effectiveness of ongoing chemotherapy.

Cardiology

PET scan enables physicians to screen for coronary artery disease, to assess flow rates and flow reserve and to distinguish viable from nonviable myocardium for bypass and transplant.

PET scan can reveal the size, shape, position, and some function of the heart. It is used when other tests, such as echocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac stress tests do not provide enough information.

Several PET scans may be taken over time to determine how well you are responding to treatment for heart disease.

Neurology

PET scan provides information for assessing various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Additionally, it localizes epileptic foci for qualifying and identifying the site requiring surgical intervention.

Fix an appointment

Do's

Eat food with minimum calorie like 2 idlies / 2 dosa / 1 bowel of oates / bread and a cup of tea / coffee / milk for a minimum of 4 hours before the scan
Dress in warm, comfortable clothing
You may be asked to change your dress at the centre before the test
It is essential to inform the diagnostic centre personnel if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant before undergoing a PET scan because of radiation exposure
You may rest for 2 hours once the radiotracer is injected into a vein
The radiotracer typically takes 1 hour 30 minutes to travel throughout the body and be absorbed into the organs or tissues to be examined
The scan itself may take another 30 to 60 minutes
You will be asked to remain still for the entire length of the exam, since motion will reduce the quality of the images
Additional tests and chemicals may be used depending on the organ that is to be examined. This may lengthen the total appointment time between 4 to 6 hours
Snacks & juice will be served after the procedure
Your activity will not be restricted. You may drive if you wish, resume your normal diet, exercise and take all prescribed medications
Consume excess of water
As an extra precaution, avoid getting close to an infant or anyone who is pregnant for eight hours immediately following the scan
Previous allergies to medicines to be informed
History of kidney disease to be informed to the doctor
Delayed scan may be required depending on the disease stage. This may require additional scan time of two hours.
While every effort shall be made to adhere to the projected scan timings, it is important to remember that the pet scan is a complex procedure and delays may be inevitable
The total duration of stay on the center should be about four to six hours depending on the disease condition
Very sick patients, emergency studies and critical CT scan patients may be scanned out of turn and shall be decided by our doctors.
For the above reason, first come first served is not applicable in the Medical field

Dont's

DO NOT wear jewelry or clothes with metal fasteners and zippers
DO NOT eat or drink anything except water during the fasting period
DO NOT have products containing caffeine
DO NOT chew gum & avoid mints
DO NOT smoke on the day of the test, as nicotine will interfere with the results of your test

Asthma patients

Bring your asthma inhaler

Diabetic patients

DO NOT take insulin on the day of the scan
Bring your diabetes medications with you so you can take it when the test is complete

PET f-18 bone scan

Does not need Any Diet Preparations
Walk-in with all Your Medical reports, All medicines/Tablets, Latest Blood Test and 1 attender Compulsory

Note

Please bring a copy of all your previous medical records, latest report of the clinical blood test, and 1 attender.