Description of PET/CT procedures

Oncology Exams

• An IV is placed in the patient's arm or hand
• The blood glucose level is tested by the technologist
• Patient lays quiet and still for 15 minutes
• After the 15 minute waiting period, the patient receives an injection of FDG (Flourine-18 Deoxyglucose)
• Patient will then lay quiet and still for another 60-90 minutes
• Patient is then taken to the PET Scanner
• Scan may take anywhere from 20-40 minutes
• After the scan, the images are reviewed by our Nuclear Medicine Physician
• If no additional images are needed, the patient is free to leave
• Total test time will take two to three hours

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging using Rubidium-82 (Rb-82)

• The patient will be asked to undress from the waist up and put on a gown
• They will be instructed to remove any metal objects from the chest area (jewelry)
• An IV is placed in a vein in the patient's arm
• EKG patches are put on the chest to monitor the patient's heart rate and rhythm
• The patient is placed on the PET/CT imaging table
• The patient will be asked to place their arms behind their head
• A CT will be done to correlate the patient's position on the table for the Rubidium imaging
• The patient then receives an infusion of the radiopharmaceutical (Rb-82), while a 6 minute set of resting images are obtained
• After the resting images are completed, the stress portion of the test will be performed using a pharmaceutical called Adenosine
• The pharmaceutical stress occurs for a 7 minute infusion period
• During the 7 minute stress, the Rb-82 is also being infused and another 6 minute set of images are obtained
• The technologist and nurse will assist you throughout the entire procedure
• The images are checked for quality and then the patient is allowed to leave
• Total Test time is 60 to 90 minutes

Myocardial Viability

• An IV is placed in a vein in the patient's arm
• Blood Glucose level is initially checked
• The patient will be given a bottle of Dexicola to drink, this will cause an increase in the blood glucose levels. At that point, diabetic patients will be instructed to take their diabetic medication
• The patient's blood glucose will be monitored until the glucose levels begin to come back down
• An injection of FDG (Flourine-18 Deoxyglucose) will be administered to the patient
• Images will begin 30-60 minutes after the injection of FDG
• The images take approximately 15 minutes
• Total Test time is 1-2 hours

Brain Imaging

• An IV is placed in a vein in the patient's arm
• After resting quietly for 30 minutes, an injection of FDG (Flourine-18 Deoxyglucose) will be administered to the patient
• Patient will need to rest quietly until imaging
• Imaging will begin 30-60 minutes after the injection of the FDG
• The imaging will take approximately 20 minutes
• Total test time is 1-2 hours