WHAT IS A PET/CT SCAN
PET/CT is a powerful diagnostic tool for detecting and diagnosing cancer, identifying areas where cancer has spread to, gives information about how effective your cancer treatment has been and screening for any recurrence of disease after you have completed your treatment.
These scans combine two advanced imaging methods:
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography): Detects changes in cells by showing areas with high metabolic / biological activity.
- CT (Computed Tomography): Provides detailed 3-dimentional anatomical information of your body. The CT is often performed with an injection of contrast (dye) to improve visualisation of structures.
FDG PET/CT
BEFORE THE SCAN
What to Bring:
- Your request form
- Any relevant previous imaging
- Your Medicare card
We will call you 1-2 days prior to your appointment to discuss the scan with you.
The appointment will take approximately 2 hours.
Please do not do any strenuous exercise for 24 hours prior to your exam. This will cause the tracer to go to your muscles, making it difficult to interpret.
You will need to fast for 6 hours prior to your appointment, except for plain tap water (please drink 4 cups of water before your scan – you may empty your bladder as often as you like).
Please note, chewing gum or lollies, even sugar free are not allowed and will make your scan inaccurate.
If you are diabetic, please contact us and we will manage your blood sugar levels to ensure your scan is of the highest quality.
Medications at your usual time with water are fine unless you have been told not to take them by your doctor or by us.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
Wear something loose, comfortable and metal-free – please note zips are metal as are most eyelets. Do not wear any jewellery.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
You will be given some forms to fill out, including a brief medical history, consent for CT contrast and details of previous imaging and treatment.
You will then be escorted into the PET/CT area.
You may need to change into a gown if you are wearing clothing with metal.
One of our expert staff will place a drip into a vein in your arm or hand so that we may give you the tracer and then you will rest in a quiet room (you may watch TV) for approximately one hour. You may also need to drink small amounts of contrast. Please do not text or play games on your phone – this will cause the glucose to go to your muscles rather than to the rest of your body. You will be given a warm blanket and asked to relax.
An hour after the injection you will need to empty your bladder just before your scan begins.
For the scan, you will lay on a scanning table and will need to keep very still (relaxed is best) while the scan is happening. Our expert Medical Imaging Technologists will be able to see and hear you at all times and give you easy to follow instructions during the scan as needed.
The scan will take approximately 15 minutes with several passes in and out of the scanner. If a contrast CT is required, our staff will inform you of the process and what to expect. There will be times you need to hold your breath for 10-15 seconds and this will be clearly communicated to you at the right time.
AFTER THE SCAN
The Medical Imaging Technologist will check your scans for movement and quality. During this time, we will give you something to eat and drink as you will be quite hungry!
If the images are diagnostic, your drip will be removed and you will be allowed to leave.
The images will then be available to our specialist oncology radiologists to review and a report will be sent to your doctor typically within 24 hours or sooner if urgent.
PSMA PET/CT
BEFORE THE SCAN
What to Bring:
- Your request form
- Any relevant previous imaging
- Your Medicare card
We will call you 1-2 days prior to your appointment to discuss the scan with you.
The appointment will take approximately 2 hours.
No fasting is required. Please drink 4 cups of fluid before your scan. You may empty your bladder as often as you like.
Medications at your usual time with water are fine unless you have been told not to take them by your doctor or by us.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
Wear something loose, comfortable and metal-free – please note zips are metal as are most eyelets. Do not wear any jewellery.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
You will be given some forms to fill out, including a brief medical history and details of previous imaging and treatment.
You will then be escorted into the PET/CT area.
One of our expert staff will place a drip into a vein in your arm or hand so that we may give you the tracer. After the injection you are free to leave and return 80 minutes later for your scan.
You will need to empty your bladder just before your scan begins.
For the scan, you will lay on a scanning table and will need to keep very still (relaxed is best) while the scan is happening. Our expert Medical Imaging Technologists will be able to see and hear you at all times and give you easy to follow instructions during the scan as needed.
The scan will take approximately 15 minutes with several passes in and out of the scanner.
AFTER THE SCAN
The Medical Imaging Technologist will check your scans for movement and quality.
If the images are diagnostic you will be allowed to leave.
The images will then be available to our specialist oncology radiologists to review and a report will be sent to your doctor typically within 24 hours or sooner if urgent.
You can resume your normal activities after a PET/CT scan.
DOTATATE PET/CT
BEFORE THE SCAN
What to Bring:
- Your request form
- Any relevant previous imaging
- Your Medicare card
We will call you 1-2 days prior to your appointment to discuss the scan with you.
The appointment will take approximately 2 hours.
No fasting is required. Please drink 4 cups of fluid before your scan. You may empty your bladder as often as you like.
Medications at your usual time with water are fine unless you have been told not to take them by your doctor or by us.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
Please bring your Medicare card with you – we are a bulk billing practice.
Wear something loose, comfortable and metal-free – please note zips are metal as are most eyelets. Do not wear any jewellery.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
You will be given some forms to fill out, including a brief medical history and details of previous imaging and treatment.
You will then be escorted into the PET/CT area.
One of our expert staff will place a drip into a vein in your arm or hand so that we may give you the tracer. After the injection you are free to leave and return 50 minutes later for your scan.
You will need to empty your bladder just before your scan begins.
For the scan, you will lay on a scanning table and will need to keep very still (relaxed is best) while the scan is happening. Our expert Medical Imaging Technologists will be able to see and hear you at all times and give you easy to follow instructions during the scan as needed.
The scan will take approximately 15 minutes with several passes in and out of the scanner.
AFTER THE SCAN
The Medical Imaging Technologist will check your scans for movement and quality.
If the images are diagnostic you will be allowed to leave.
The images will then be available to our specialist oncology radiologists to review and a report will be sent to your doctor typically within 24 hours or sooner if urgent.
FDG PET/CT Brain
This type of PET scan uses small amounts of glucose which has a radioactive element combined with it. Your brain uses glucose as fuel, so it absorbs the tracer depending on blood flow and metabolism. The amount of radiation is low and safe. Reactions to the injection are extremely rare.
BEFORE THE SCAN
What to Bring:
- Your request form
- Any relevant previous imaging
- Your Medicare card
We will call you 1-2 days prior to your appointment to discuss the scan with you.
The appointment will take approximately 2 hours.
You will need to fast for 6 hours prior to your appointment, except for plain tap water (please drink 4 cups of water before your scan – you may empty your bladder as often as you like).
Please note, chewing gum or lollies, even sugar free are not allowed and will make your scan inaccurate.
If you are diabetic, please contact us and we will manage your blood sugar levels to ensure your scan is of the highest quality.
Medications at your usual time with water are fine unless you have been told not to take them by your doctor or by us.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
Please bring your Medicare card with you – we are a bulk billing practice.
Wear something loose, comfortable and metal-free – please note zips are metal as are most eyelets.
Do not wear any jewellery.
DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT
You will be given some forms to fill out, including a brief medical history and details of previous imaging and treatment.
You will then be escorted into the PET/CT area.
One of our expert staff will place a drip into a vein in your arm or hand so that we may give you the tracer and then you will rest in a quiet, darkened room for approximately 30 minutes. You will be given a blindfold and some earmuffs. You will be given a warm blanket and asked to relax.
After 30 minutes, the PET Technologist will quietly enter the room and give you the injection. You must not move or talk and remain as relaxed and as still as possible. You will spend a further 10 minutes relaxed in the quiet room.
One of our staff will then enter the room and ask to empty your bladder just before your scan begins.
For the scan, you will lay on a scanning table and will need to keep very still (relaxed is best) while the scan is happening. Our expert Medical Imaging Technologists will be able to see and hear you at all times and give you easy to follow instructions during the scan as needed.
The scan will take approximately 10 minutes with several passes in and out of the scanner with your head held still in a special head holder.
AFTER THE SCAN
The Medical Imaging Technologist will check your scans for movement and quality. During this time, we will give you something to eat and drink as you will be quite hungry!
If the images are diagnostic, your drip will be removed and you will be allowed to leave and go about your normal activities.
The images will then be available to our specialist radiologists to review and a report will be sent to your doctor typically within 24 hours or sooner if urgent.
