What is a PET Scan?
PET is a positron emission tomography that makes your Doctor check your body for various diseases. In this type of a Scan special dyes are used and these dyes have radioactive tracers. After the tracers are injected into a vein of your arm, your organs and tissues start absorbing the tracer. Your body is put under a PET scanner and your doctor is able to find out whether your organs and tissues are working appropriately or not. The PET CT scan helps your doctor to find the blood flow, usage of the oxygen and usage of the sugar by your body, glucose metabolism and many more diseases.
This procedure is an outpatient procedure which implies that you are allowed to go back home after the completion of the procedure.
Why is the PET Scan done?
The PET scan is done to diagnose whether you are suffering from the following diseases or not-
- Problems with your central nervous system
- Brain disorders
- Heart problems
- Cancer
Though other imaging tests like the CT scan and the MRI are also beneficial yet PET scans are able to diagnose the problems persisting at the cellular level. This enables the doctor to very clearly view the diseases called as the complex systemic diseases like
- Brain tumours
- Seizures
- Memory disorders
- Coronary artery disease
- Lung Cancer Lymph Nodes
- PET scan for diabetics
When PET is used for diagnosing the cancer, it helps your doctor to view very clearly the metabolization of the cancer and to know the areas to which the cancer has spread. The response of the tumour to the chemotherapy is also shown using the PET.
What is the procedure of the PET Scan?
During the PET scan procedure, you’ll either be given a gas to inhale or else a solution to drink. You might be given tracers via a vein in your arm. For absorbing the tracers, your body would need some time, therefore, you’ll be asked to wait for about an hour tentatively before the beginning of the scan.
Now you’ll be made to lie on a narrow table and this table would be attached to the PET machine. The table will be made to glide into the machine. This would be a slow procedure.
You’ll be asked not to move at all during the scan. You’ll also be asked not to breathe for some time. While the test would be on, you’ll be made to hear buzzing and clicking noises.
When all the important images would be recorded, you’ll be made to slide out of the machine. Your test would have completed.
After the test gets completed, you’ll be asked to carry on your normal day. You might be given certain instructions by the doctor. You’ll be asked to drink ample fluids for letting you flush the tracers out of your body’s system. Mostly, it takes about two days to let all the tracers leave your body.
When will you get your PET CT Scan results?
PET scan results would be available within 24-48 hours. A trained specialist will be asked to interpret the images of the PET. This information will be shared will your doctor. Your doctor with you will go through your results at your follow up appointment.
How should you prepare yourself for the PET scan?
Complete instructions will be given to you by your doctor for the PET scan preparation (rules). You should reveal your prescriptions and the medicines being taken by you to your doctor. You will not be allowed to eat anything for more than eight hours before the procedure takes place though you’ll be allowed to drink water.
In case if you are pregnant, you should tell your doctor because the test could be unsafe for your baby. You’ll be given special instructions for your test in case if you are Diabetic because fasting may impact your sugar levels of the blood.
Hospital will provide you with a gown to wear and will ask you to remove your jewellery as metal can be an interference in the procedure.
How much would the PET Scan Cost?
You can get the PET scan of your chest, brain or the whole body done at various diagnostic centres associated with 3HCare. Cost of PET CT scan can differ at different labs. To get a transparent and competitive pricing for your scan, logon to 3H Care portal and book your test.
