PET scan
What is a PET scan?
A positron emission tomography scan is a test used to detect cancer and neurological diseases. Special pictures are taken after a medicine is injected into a vein. The medicine is called a radiopharmaceutical (a tiny amount of a radioactive liquid). The pictures show the medicine in the body.
Before the scan
PET scans are only performed at our Westchester site. Before coming for the test, read this explanation and explain to your child what will happen. For young children, use simple words and explain only shortly before the test. There is special preparation for this test and a nurse will call you the day before with instructions.
Patient preparation
- Do not allow the child to eat or drink anything except water for 6 hours before the exam because it could interfere with the results; don’t even allow chewing gum. But do allow the child to drink plenty of water.
- If the child takes medications, allow him to drink only water to swallow them.
- If your child has been advised not to take his medications on an empty stomach, allow him to eat nothing more than a few soda crackers within 6 hours of the exam.
- If your child is a diabetic, let us know ahead of time so we can work with your physician to determine the safest possible way to prepare for the exam.
- If your child feels feverish, please call this to our attention.
- Do not allow your child to wear anything metallic (such as belts, zippers, buttons or an underwire bra)
- Keep your child from strenuous physical exercise 24 hours prior to exam.
- In addition, please let us know if your child might be pregnant or is currently breast feeding.
If your child is under 5 years of age, he may have to sedated. Follow sedation instructions that the nurse or doctor give you, but
these are the general ones you can refer to now.
During the procedure
A technologist or nurse will place a small needle called an IV into a vein in your child's hand or foot. The needle hurts for just a moment. When the needle is in, the medicine is injected into a vein. Then, your child will lie in a dark, quiet room for 1 hour.
After an hour, pictures will be taken. Your child will need to lie still on a soft table while a special camera is used to take pictures of him. He may need a safety belt to help him lie still. If sedation medicine is necessary, a nurse or doctor will explain it to you. It will take at leas 45 minutes to take all of the pictures. During this time, the camera will not hurt or touch your child. You will be able to stay with your child during the entire test.
It is possible that during the procedure your child may experience some discomfort. Please tell the doctor, nurse or technologist if pain occurs.
After the scan
The child eliminates the medicine from his body by urinating. He should drink plenty of fluids and urinate often to help clear it from his body. It should be completely out of his body within 24 hours.
As always, you and your child should wash your hands after urinating or when handling urine-soaked diapers or sheets.
After the test, your child may return to regular daily activities and meals. If your child had sedation medicine, he will be monitored by a nurse in the recovery room until he wakes.
This amount of time is often unpredictable depending on the amount of sedation medicine given. It is common for children to sleep 2 hours after the medicine is given.
A nurse will give you special instructions. Results of the test will be available to your child's doctor within 24 hours.
Technology/Scanners used
The camera used to take pictures is a PET/CT scanner called the GE Discovery ST.