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Bring recent x-ray studies (such as CT or MRI scan) or prior PET scans obtained outside UVA hospital for the radiologist to compare directly to your PET-CT scan.
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Do not eat or drink anything except plain water for 4-6 hours before the scan, i.e. no food, gum, mints, coffee (with cream or milk), etc. Black coffee or tea, both without sugar or cream/milk are allowed.
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You may take any necessary medications that can be taken with water and are tolerated on an empty stomach, except for over the counter medications that contain sugar like cough syrup.
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Diabetic patients will need to watch their diet and blood glucose closely for several days before the exam. It is important to keep sugar levels below 150.
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No vigorous exercise or hard physical labor for 24 hours prior to your PET Scan appointment.
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Allow 2-3 hours for the PET-CT procedure. The actual scan time (lying on the imaging table) is usually less than one hour, 1-1.5 hours for melanoma, or 30 minutes for brain. The standard exam varies depending on the type of study.
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For oncology patients therapy itself may result in changes on the PET-CT in the area recently treated. The following are suggested for timing PET-CT scans after therapy:
- No sooner than 4 weeks after radiotherapy.
- No sooner than 1-2 weeks after chemotherapy.
- No sooner than 4 weeks after surgery.
