What Do I Need To Do Before A PET Scan?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Don’t drink caffeine for 24 hours before a PET scan

of your heart. Don’t do any exercise or other strenuous activity for at least 48 hours before this test. Don’t eat or drink (except water) for at least 6 hours before this test. (e.g., no coffee, tea, juice, milk, gum, or candies).

Can I drink coffee before a PET scan?


Don’t drink caffeine for 24 hours before a PET scan

of your heart. Don’t do any exercise or other strenuous activity for at least 48 hours before this test. Don’t eat or drink (except water) for at least 6 hours before this test. (e.g., no coffee, tea, juice, milk, gum, or candies).

What prep is required for a PET scan?

Preparation for the Procedure

You will be asked to follow the Limited Carbohydrate diet for the previous 24 hours before the date of your appointment.

Do not eat or drink anything, except water

, for 6 hours before the exam. You may drink water, as much water as you can would be helpful, until arrival.

What should I do the night before a PET scan?

  • For dinner the night before the exam, eat a low carb, high protein diet, e.g., meats, fish, green vegetables, eggs or cheese. …
  • Do not eat or drink anything after midnight, EXCEPT WATER. …
  • No gum, candy or sugar the morning/day of your appointment.

What can you not eat the day before a PET scan?

Please avoid eating

foods high in carbohydrates

. These foods include potatoes, pasta, rice, breads, pretzels, cookies, candy, soda pop and alcoholic beverages. drink plenty of water the day before your appointment.

Do you have to take your clothes off for a PET scan?


Wear comfortable clothing for the scan

. You may also need to change from your regular clothing into a hospital gown. Leave valuables at home, such as jewelry or a watch, so they don’t get misplaced. You may need to remove anything that contains metal, such as eyeglasses, dentures, or hearing aids, during the test.

What happens if you move during a PET scan?


Moving too much can make the substance move into areas that are not being studied

. This makes it harder for doctors to read the scan. The radioactive substance takes 30 to 90 minutes to reach the body parts that will be scanned. You may also be asked to drink a contrast liquid.

How long does a PET scan take for results?

When should I get my test results? A radiologist with specialized training in PET scans will review the images, write a report and send it to your healthcare provider. This process usually takes

24 hours

.

Is a PET scan claustrophobic?

Medical procedures such as MRIs, PET scans and CT scans are

frequent sources of claustrophobia

. These types of tests enclose individuals in small quarters to obtain imaging for diagnostic and treatment purposes.

Can you wear a bra during a PET scan?

You need to wear comfortable, loose clothing, and will generally be changed into a hospital gown. It is important that you are

not wearing metal

, including jewellery, watches, zips and bra hooks, as these can affect the quality of the images produced.

What are the disadvantages of a PET scan?

Limitations of a PET Scan

A PET scan is less accurate in certain situations:

Slow-growing, less active tumors may not absorb much tracer

. Small tumors (less than 7mm) may not be detectable. High levels of blood sugar can cause the cells to absorb this normal sugar rather than the radioactive, injected kind.

What are the side effects of having a PET scan?

If undergoing a combination PET-CT scan, the iodine-based contrast dye used for the CT component can cause side effects, including

nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, flushing, and mild rash

. In rare cases, a serious, all-body allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis may occur.

What happens if you eat carbs before a PET scan?

Avoid food and drinks

that contain sugar or carbohydrates

for at least 24 hours before your scan. This will help to make sure that your images are of the best quality and help prevent having to reschedule your scan because of a blood sugar that is too high.

Do benign tumors show up on PET scans?

A PET/CT test helps

diagnose cancer

and gives more information, including whether a tumor is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), whether the cancer cells are active or dead, and how well the cancer is responding to treatment.

Can you eat cheese before a PET scan?


12 hours before

your appointment:

Foods that can be eaten include: meat, hard cheese, tofu, eggs, butter and vegetables with no starch. Some foods that are NOT allowed include: cereal, pasta, milk, breads and other sugars.

What does nicotine do to a PET scan?

Can I smoke before a PET/CT scan? Generally speaking, smoking

does not directly affect the quality of a PET scan

.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.