Your physician may recommend a PET/CT scan for you if they suspect or are actively treating cancer, to assess the stage, monitor treatment response, and detect recurrence.
A PET/CT scan is not only used for cancer, but has various applications including neurological evaluations, cardiac issues, and assessing metabolic activity of various organs.
PET/CT requires very minimal preparation. Your physician and our team at South Jersey Radiology will provide you with specific guidelines to follow based on your medical history. Here are the important, more general guidelines to follow before your appointment:
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment.
• Avoid any heavy physician activity prior to your appointment.
• Maintain a high-protein and low-carb on the day before your appointment.
• Avoid eating or drinking (except water) for at least six hours prior to your appointment.
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t contain any metal objects including jewelry, buttons, belts, and zippers.
A PET/CT is deemed safe, with low levels of radiation used in the radioactive tracer and CT imaging, which dissolve quickly from the body. To aid the influence of these traces, it is recommended to consume extra fluids in the days following your appointment.
Please inform our staff and your physician if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as undergoing this study is not recommended in these situations. It is important to disclose any history of diabetes or kidney disease to our staff, as these conditions may influence your results.
An oncologist may order a PET/CT to evaluate the stage of cancer, determine the location for a biopsy, and measure the effectiveness of a treatment plan.
If you are claustrophobic, don’t worry – you can still have a PET/CT scan. The CT machine used during the study is a wide, donut-shaped hole with an open back, not enclosed.
Typically, the study will last between 20 – 30 minutes. Our technologists will be there every step of the way to ensure you feel comfortable at all times. If you’re feeling anxious about your appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out to your physician. They can talk to you about ways to help reduce your anxiety before you come in for your appointment.
Imagine a CT scan as taking a series of pictures (slices) using X-rays to give us a detailed view of your bones, organs, and tissues inside your body. When we add a PET scan to this, it gives us even more detailed information about how your organs and tissues are working. It allows you and your physician to get a closer look at what’s going on inside to better understand your health.
Once your PET/CT is complete, one of our board-certified, subspecialized radiologists will analyze the results and develop a detailed report for your physician. Your physician will receive the report within 48 hours and follow up with you to go over the results.
After 5 – 7 days, your reports and images will be available to you via our easy-to-access patient portal.
South Jersey Radiology is in-network with 99% of health insurance providers. If you are unsure about our network status with your health insurance provider, please contact your provider directly. In some cases, insurance companies may attempt to tell you which radiology centers are preferred. As the patient, you have the right to choose if you would like your study performed as South Jersey Radiology.