CT-PET - what to expect?

http://www.cancer.net/patient/All+About+Cancer/Cancer.Net+Features/Treatments%2C+Tests%2C+and+Procedures/Integrated+PET-CT+Scan%26mdash%3BWhat+to+Expect

Preparing for the procedure

When you schedule the examination, you will get detailed instructions on how to prepare. Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, and review with him or her whether you should take your regular medications that day. Review any drug allergies or other medical conditions you have, especially any allergic reactions you've had to iodine.

Women should tell their doctors if they are breast-feeding or there is any chance that they are pregnant.

You may be told to drink only clear liquids starting at midnight the night before your exam. You may be instructed to not eat or drink anything for at least four hours prior to your scan.

You may want to ask if you can bring your own music. Some facilities allow patients to listen to music during their examinations.

You will be asked to sign a consent form that states you understand the benefits and risks of the PET-CT scan and agree to have the test done. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you have about the scan.

During the procedure

When you arrive for the PET-CT scan, you may need to change into a hospital gown or remove clothing or jewelry that could interfere with the scan. This includes belts, earrings, shirts with snaps or zippers, bras, and glasses.

A nurse will then inject the radioactive sugar molecules needed for the PET scan. The injection is often done through an IV line inserted in your vein. The IV line will feel like a pinprick when it is inserted, but the radioactive material will not create any sensation in your body.

After the injection, the radioactive substance will take 30 to 90 minutes to reach the tissues to be scanned. During that time, you will need to lie quietly without moving or talking; too much motion can affect the sites where the sugar molecules accumulate.

Depending on what part of your body will be scanned for the CT scan, you may also be given a contrast agent (dye). It may be administered orally (as a drink), through an IV line or an injection. The dye travels through your bloodstream and helps to create a clearer picture of specific parts of your body.

If you are given the dye through an injection, you may feel heat or itching at the injection site or have a metallic taste in your mouth; both sensations should disappear after a few minutes. If you have a severe reaction, tell the technologist immediately.

When it's time for the examination to begin, a technologist will help position you on a padded exam table outside of the PET-CT scanner. The table may have straps or pillows to help hold you in place or a special cradle for your head. You will probably lie on your back, though you may be asked to lie on your side or your stomach, depending on what part of your body is being scanned.

During the examination, the technologist who monitors the procedure will be in an adjoining control room, but he or she will be able to observe you through a window or by means of a video camera, and you will be able to communicate through an intercom system.

The PET-CT scanner resembles a large donut. The exam table will slide back and forth through the large hole in the center of the machine as the scanner rotates around you. For the first scans, the table will move rapidly through the scanner; these help the technologist confirm that your body is properly positioned. For the remaining scans, the table will move more slowly. The scans are done sequentially: first the CT scans, then the PET scans.

A PET-CT scan is not painful. You will need to lie still for the entire scan, and you may need to keep your arms raised above your head, which could become uncomfortable. The PET-CT scanner needs to be kept cool, so the examination room may feel chilly.

You will hear whirring or clicking sounds from the machine; some machines are noisier than others. You may be asked to hold your breath during part of the scan because the motion created by breathing can blur the images. The exam table may be raised, lowered, or tilted to create the correct angle for the scan; ask the technologist performing the scan to tell you when the table will move.

The examination will generally last up to an hour, though the scanning itself takes only about 30 minutes. If a larger part of your body is being scanned, the procedure may last longer. The technologist should be able to give you a time estimate before you begin.

When the scan is finished, you may be asked to remain on the exam table while a radiologist reviews the images. If the images are blurred or otherwise unreadable, you may need to have additional images taken.

After the procedure

You can expect to resume your normal activities immediately after your PET-CT scan, including driving. You may be told to drink water to flush the contrast material and radioactive sugar out of your body.

Hi Leah,

I had one in 2007 and it wasn't as big a deal as I thought it would be.  I'm highly claustrophobic and took Ativan, which greatly helped.

Good luck with your scan and results!

Jelly

I've not had one, but just want to wish you well. Hope it is noneventful, and everything comes back clear. 

I've had all the scans (CT, MRI, PET/CT, bone, bone density, MUGA) and, sorry, but I get them mixed up. I am wondering if it was the one that reminded me of a MRI....What I do remember is that the PET/CT was not the scariest one and was easier than I thought would be. I am not particularly claustrophobic but don't like the idea of some machine inches away from my face. Right from the beginning I have closed my eyes for all the scans, as soon as I can. Then I don't see if I go into some tube or how close the machine gets to my head. That way I can just concentrate on the fact that I can breath so there is nothing to worry about. It has worked for me and I have never been near having any panic.

I'll be crossing my fingers for you.

Thought I would weigh in again after reading Christy's experiences. I don't think my PET/CT was longer than 30 minutes. I suppose it is a question of how much of your body they are imaging. I can't IMAGINE laying there completely still for 3 hours! I wasn't strapped in at all. I also asked them to tell me every 10 minutes how much time was left. That helps me to know that it will come to an end.

For me, the worst part was sitting in a dark little room waiting for the scan to begin.  I was instructed not to use my cell phone or even read!  That would be too much "activity".

Also you mayneed to drink a giant bottle of fruit flavored goop prior to the scan.  I think my choices were banana or berry.

The scan itself was non-eventful and lasted around 30 - 40 minutes.

I just had a flashback.  The noxious drink can cause the runs.  I was walking around downtown Seattle when it happened and luckily I remembered the public restroom in the art museum. 

Diagnosis: 9/8/2009, IDC, Stage IIIb, PR+, HER2-

They had us lie down on a bed in a darkened room for a half-hour before the test. You might want to avoid sugar or carbohydrates if you eat in the morning before you have to fast. As I understand it, the test measures sugar "uptake" in the body. The drink has alot of sugar or carbohydrates and cancer loves sugar, so where there is alot of sugar is cancer. The problem is you can get false positives by doing physical activity before the test which is why they ask you to be still.

I had a PET/CT a couple of weeks ago and it was no big problem, no lasting SE's or pain. Waiting for results after the test was the hardest part. I wish you all the best on Thursday!

Thinking of you today Leah.

Wishing you only good news.