Is A Pet Scan Claustrophobic
Introduction
A PET/CT scan shows how your organs and tissues are working—and can even find disease at its earliest stages. But if you’ve never had one before, the idea of lying inside a machine for several minutes might be a bit intimidating. Before your scan, here are some facts about this advanced test.
What is PET/CT?
A PET/CT scan is a type of imaging test that uses two types of scans, both nuclear medicine and computed tomography (CT), to create a 3D image.
A PET/CT scan can help find out if you have cancer, the location of the cancer, and how far it has spread. It also helps determine if a cancer is responding to treatment.
What happens during a PET/CT scan?
- The patient is placed on the table and the table is moved into the scanner.
- The patient is positioned for imaging.
- The patient receives an injection of radioactive tracer (typically FDG) as well as a contrast agent (usually Gadolinium). This will help visualize areas of high or low metabolic activity in your body.
- After this, you will be asked to lie down while being monitored by technicians outside of the scanner room. They will be able to see you through glass windows, but they cannot enter unless there’s an emergency situation that needs immediate attention (like a fire).
How long does a PET/CT scan take?
The length of the PET/CT scan depends on the type of scan and the area being scanned. A full body scan may take from 30 minutes to more than an hour, while spot scans can be completed in as little as two minutes.
Will I be claustrophobic during the test?
First, you should know that the test is not claustrophobic. It is a very safe procedure, and it takes only a few minutes to complete. The pet scan machine is roughly the size of an MRI machine or CT scanner but has special features to make it more comfortable for animals and their owners.
This type of scan is also very common—over 1 million are performed every year in the United States alone! And they’re fast—the average time it takes to complete the exam is just under five minutes per pet (which means yours will be done before you know it).
The accuracy of these scans comes from both their speed and their ability to provide clear images with high resolution detail: your doctor can see things like tumors when he looks at your Pet Scan images later on in his office.
Is it painful to have a PET/CT?
In a nutshell, a PET/CT scan is not painful for you. You will remain awake during the whole procedure and you will likely feel no discomfort or side effects. The radiation exposure is very low and it’s unlikely that you would develop any complications later on in life.
If your dog or cat has been diagnosed with cancer, we understand that they may be frightened by the thought of seeing an unfamiliar hospital setting and being placed under anesthesia. Feline comfort and ease are important to us here at Phoenix Veterinary Clinic, which is why our team offers sedation options for pet scans (in addition to pain management) so your cat can relax while having their exam completed. In fact, our doctors have seen great results in terms of patient comfort when using sedation protocols before performing diagnostic tests like x-rays or ultrasounds on felines!
There is no evidence of any tissue damage from the radiation.
A PET/CT scan is a combination of two tests: a PET scan and a CT scan. Both are used to detect cancer cells in the body, but they differ in how they perform the task.
PET stands for positron emission tomography, while CT stands for computed tomography. In the case of a PET/CT scan, the patient will be injected with radioactive tracer molecules called “radiotracers” that emit gamma rays (a form of radiation). These radiotracers are designed to bind with certain types of cancer cells so that when they emit gamma rays, these can be detected by specialized cameras, which create images that show where there is increased activity in your body compared to normal tissue (this is called “hot spots”).
Conclusion
A PET/CT scan is a great way to get detailed information about the structure of your organs and how they are functioning. You can use it if you have been diagnosed with cancer or other serious medical conditions such as heart disease.