 P.E.T.,
or "Positron Emission Tomography" is a state-of-the-art
imaging technology that uses small amounts of radioactive pharmaceuticals
(radioisotopes) to make images of the human body or disease process.
Most procedures use a glucose (sugar) labeled with a short-lived
radioactive material. Unlike, conventional CT, MRI, or X-ray, PET
scans provide "functional" or "metabolic" information
of organ tissues. Obtaining this "functional" information
gives the physician an excellent tool in :
· Diagnosing both the presence and extent of disease.
· Determining the appropriate methods of treatment or therapy.
Procedure:
The total time required will be 2 - 3 hours. After the injection
of the radiopharmaceutical, you will wait up to one hour in a comfortable
environment for the material to circulate in your body. The whole
body imaging procedure will take 45 min. - 1 hour.
Are there any side effects?
The radioactive pharmaceutical you will receive is very safe and
there are no known side effects. There is limited radiation exposure
involved that is similar to other Nuclear Medicine or Radiology
procedures.
Who will be performing my exam?
OI prides itself on maintaining highly competent, well trained technical
staff. An experienced Nuclear Medicine technologist who will work
closely with the radiologist and clerical staff to provide the highest
quality service possible will perform your procedure.
How is the scan performed?
A short-lived radiopharmaceutical, specifically designed for use
with P.E.T. imaging, will be injected into your arm. The procedure
will begin after an "uptake period" of 45-60 minutes depending
on the type of examination being ordered. There are no side effects
from the injection and you will be asked to rest quietly during
the "uptake period." The scan itself will take approximately
one hour.
You will be asked to lie comfortably
on the imaging table while the scanner detects the concentration
of the glucose within the body and generates an image by use of
the computer. The amount of time involved to complete your scan
will depend on the type of procedure your physician has ordered.
The P.E.T. staff will provide you with this information at the time
of your scan.
The Interpretation of P.E.T.
Scans?
After completion of the exam, the technical staff will "process"
the information and prepare it for review. A radiologist, with extensive
training and experience in the field of Radiology/Nuclear Medicine,
will use a computer to analyze the images.
When will the results be available?
After completion of your exam, the technical staff will "process"
the information and prepare it for interpretation. A radiologist
with training and expertise in the field of P.E.T. and other correlative
imaging studies will interpret the images the following day. A typed
report will be forwarded to your physician within 1-2 days.
Note: It is important that we have your outside films at the time
of the P.E.T. Scan in order to issue the report in a timely manner.
You MUST obtain your results through the physician that ordered
your exam.
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