PET and PET/CT Patient Preps
PET Scans
Instructions for the 12 hours prior to exam:
- Stay on a low carb diet
- Do NOT engage in any strenuous exercise
- Do NOT chew gum and avoid mints
- Refrain from consuming any caffeine, including any decaf products, for 24 hours prior to exam.
Day of the exam:
- Do NOT eat anything six hours prior to your appointment time. Please drink several glasses of water (two to six) and take medications. If you need to eat, please stick to a small protein-only meal. If you are diabetic, please consult your doctor for questions regarding medication.
- Wear warm and comfortable clothes
- You will receive an injection
- If having a CT, you may be asked to drink oral contrast
- You will be asked to sit quietly in the waiting room for 60 to 90 minutes after the injection, and to drink two glasses of water, if you can
- Scans generally take about an hour. In some cases, more than one scan is required; you will be notified of the number of scans at the time of injection.
- Your total time commitment will be about three hours, and reports should be in your doctor's office within 48 hours
- There are no residual side effects from a PET scan. On rare occasions, CT contrast may cause a reaction. You will be able to drive yourself home.
Please direct any further questions to Cedars-Sinai's Nuclear Medicine staff at (310) 423-4682.
CT Scans
CT without Contrast: The patient can have water only for four hours before the exam. CT with Contrast: If you answer yes to any of the following, please provide BUN and creatinine labs performed within 30 of the scheduled exam date. The patient can have water only for four hours before the exam.
- Renal or kidney disease
- Single kidney
- Insulin or Glucophage dependant diabetes
- Currently on chemotherapy
- HIV positive
- On diuretic or water pill
