Saint Mary's Imaging Services

PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans

Like other nuclear medicine procedures, the patient receive an injection of a specific isotope, F18-deoxyglucose. The F18-deoxygulcose accumulates in metabolically active tumors and soft tissues. For this reason, PET scan patients are asked to refrain from eating any types of sugar the day of their exam, i.e. sugar, sugar substitutes, fruit and fruit juices. Patients may have breakfast prior to 7 a.m the day of their exam, and then adhere to a clear liquid, sugar free diet until testing, at which time they will be asked to drink a lot of water. Please tell the radiologist if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic or on anticoagulants.

PET scans are read at Saint Mary's by staff radiologists. Once the radiologist has analyzed the images, he or she will send a signed report to the patient's physician within three to five days. Patients can then call their physician for the results.