If you have been scheduled for a PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan, you may be feeling apprehensive about what to expect. These imaging tests are painless procedures that are used in detecting diseases or conditions in your body. They involve a combination of a radioactive substance and a special camera to produce images of the organs and tissues inside the body. This blog post is meant to explain what PET scans are, their different types, when they are needed, how to prepare for them, and what to expect before, during, and after the exam.

Types of PET Scans:

There are different types of PET scans, and the type you need depends on the condition your doctor wants to diagnose. Some of the most common types include:

1. Brain PET Scans: These scans are used to diagnose conditions affecting the brain. They help to detect changes in the brain’s metabolism, thus providing information about conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

2. Heart PET Scans: These scans are used to diagnose heart conditions such as blockages in the heart’s blood vessels or coronary artery disease. They also help to evaluate heart function and detect damaged heart muscles.

3. Lung PET Scans: These scans are used to diagnose lung cancer, monitor the progression of the disease, and check whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

When Do You Need a PET Scan?

PET scans are used in the diagnosis and monitoring of various medical conditions such as cancer, brain disorders, heart diseases, and infectious diseases. They are also used before and after surgical procedures to help doctors plan and monitor the success of the treatment. Your doctor may recommend a PET scan if you exhibit certain symptoms or if other diagnostic tests are inconclusive.

How to Prepare for a PET Scan:

Before undergoing a PET scan, your doctor will provide some instructions on how to prepare for the exam. These may include:

1. Fasting – Depending on the type of PET scan you are having, you may need to fast for several hours before the test.

2. Medications – You may need to stop taking certain medications, especially those that contain glucose, before the exam.

3. Informing Your Doctor – You need to inform your doctor of any conditions or allergies you have, as well as any medications you are currently taking.

What to Expect During and After the Exam:

During the PET scan, you will be asked to lie flat on a table that moves slowly through a donut-shaped PET scanner. You will be given an injection of a small amount of radioactive substance, or tracer, into your vein. The scanner will then capture images of the tracer as it moves through your body. The test usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour.

After the exam, you need to drink plenty of fluids to help flush out the tracer from your body. It is also important to avoid close contact with pregnant women and infants for a few hours after the test, as the radioactive tracer can be harmful to them.