Is A Pet Scan Safe

Introduction

A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive drug to show differences between healthy tissue and unhealthy tissue. A PET scan can help diagnose diseases, such as cancer. It can also show how well certain treatments are working. During the procedure, you will be injected with a radioactive substance called a tracer or radiotracer. The drug travels through your body into areas of higher chemical activity, where it collects in the organ or tissue being examined. Detectors in the machine create an image of the area being tested based on signals from the tracer that are given off as it collects in different parts of your body.

A PET scan uses a radioactive drug called a tracer to locate tissue differences at a molecular level.

A PET scan uses a radioactive drug called a tracer that is injected into a vein. The tracer travels through the bloodstream, where it attaches itself to healthy cells or those that are dividing rapidly (cancerous and precancerous cells). The PET scanner detects these areas of increased activity with an exactness not possible with other imaging techniques.

The scan shows how organs and tissues are working.

PET scans are used to diagnose cancer, evaluate blood flow to the brain and heart and measure blood flow to certain organs. The scan can also detect inflammation or other abnormal changes in tissues.

PET scans are noninvasive and show how organs and tissues are working. They measure glucose consumption by cells in order to provide information about diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders.

The nuclear medicine technologist carefully watches you during the whole procedure.

As a patient, you should be aware that the nuclear medicine technologist is watching the entire procedure. They will be checking your vital signs and making sure you are comfortable throughout the scan. They will also watch for any signs of discomfort or distress on your part.

If at any time you feel uncomfortable, let them know immediately so they can offer any assistance needed.

You must remain still during the exam to avoid blurring the images.

After the injection, you will be asked to lie on a table and breathe normally. You may be given earplugs or headphones to cover your ears to protect them from the loud sound of the imaging equipment.

When it’s time for the scan, you will either hold your breath for a few seconds or be asked not to move during the scanning process. The technician will ask you when you are ready for these tests:

Hold your breath for about 5 seconds and then breathe normally
Hold your breath for about 10 seconds and then breathe normally
Hold your breath briefly (less than three seconds) each time they take an image

Shifting or moving your body may cause blurring on the final images and make them unusable.

During a PET scan, you will be in a very small space. The machine is designed to move around your body and take many images from different angles. You will have to lie very still and hold your breath for much of the time.

If you move or shift your body during the scan, it can cause blurring on the final images and make them unusable. You must also not talk or breathe heavily, swallow (if you are able to), sneeze or cough, laugh, talk to anyone else in the room with you—including family members who may be present as chaperones—or otherwise disrupt the procedure.

You cannot have anything to eat or drink for at least six hours before you arrive at the scan center.

You cannot eat or drink anything for at least six hours before you arrive at the scan center. The reason for this is that the tracer (radioisotope) is injected into a vein in your arm and travels through your blood stream to reach its target, which is usually your brain. It takes time for the tracer to get where it needs to go and it needs to decay over time before it can be excreted from your body. The six-hour window gives enough time for both of these processes to occur as well as allowing you some flexibility in case plans change and you need more time than expected.

You can expect to be there for about two hours.

Once you’re in the machine, you’ll spend about 30 minutes with your head inside of it. Afterward, you’ll wait another 30 minutes before moving on to another part of the scan. Finally, you will have a brief interview with a technician in order to make sure that everything went well and that any additional scans or tests are necessary.

A PET scan is safe and painless, but you may need to abstain from eating beforehand.

A PET scan is safe, but you may need to abstain from eating and drinking before your procedure. You will be asked not to eat or drink for six hours before the scan. This helps ensure that you have a clear picture of your internal organs during the test. If you are taking any medications, make sure they are not interfering with the test results by checking with your doctor or pharmacist first.

It’s also important to make sure that it’s safe for you to undergo a PET scan if:

You’re pregnant (because currently there isn’t enough research on its effects on unborn children)
You have certain types of metal in your body (like an artificial hip)

Conclusion

A PET scan is a safe and painless procedure, but it’s important that you follow all the instructions given by your doctor and nuclear medicine technologist. Even though the radiation exposure from one PET scan is relatively low, it’s still a good idea to take precautions if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding. It’s also important to tell your medical team about any allergies you have before getting this exam done so they can help make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction to any of the substances used during it.