What to Expect during a PET/CT Scan
You will be given a radioactive tracer for the scan to make the organs more visible. You may be asked to drink some contrast material, depending on the nature of the medical problem being examined.
During a PET/CT Scan, you will lie on a movable table that moves your body through a large donut-shaped ring. As you pass through the ring, the scanner takes a complete 360-degree picture of you and sends it to a computer. The table moves a small distance and another picture is taken and sent to the computer. This process is repeated until the computer has enough information to reconstruct a complete image of your internal anatomy.
During the exam you will hear the sound of the motors and gears. It is important that you lie still because any movement can blur the images. The scan could take 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the part of your body being scanned. After the scan you will able to return to your normal activities.
After the exam, the radiologist who reads your scan will report to your physician on the results of the test. Your doctor will then explain the results to you and recommend follow-up actions.
