South West Area NHS PET/CT

Information about PET/CT scanning can be accessed from all of the PET/CT web pages on our website, however, if your NHS doctor has arranged for you to have a PET/CT scan, then you may find this page especially helpful as we have tried to bring together in one place all of the information you may require before attending for an examination with us. The PET/CT scan you have been referred for combines the functional information from a positron emission tomography (PET) exam with the anatomical information from a computed tomography (CT) exam into one single exam. CT is an imaging technique used to visualize both the soft tissue and bone inside your body.

A pet exam detects change in cellular function, how your cells utilise nutrients like sugar and oxygen. Since functional changes take place before physical changes occur, PET can provide information that will enable doctors to make an early diagnosis. In order to achieve the highest diagnostic results please read the following information and guidance.

Is there anything you need to tell us before your scan?

Yes you need to confirm your appointment. Please call 0800 138 7202 for all PET-CT enquiries, bookings or confirmation of a booking.

It is very important that you confirm your appointment, so that we can give the time to another patient if you are unable to make it.

It is important that you get here on time as scans generally cannot be delayed.

Please inform us when you ring to confirm your appointment if any of the following applies to you:

• Recent Chemotherapy - within the last 4 weeks
• Radiotherapy - within 3 - 6 months
• Surgery - within 3 - 6 months
• You are pregnant or think that you might be pregnant
• You are breast feeding
• You are a diabetic
• You have had problems with injections in the past
• You suffer from claustrophobia
• Please do not bring pregnant relatives with you for your appointment.

• If you have had previous CT/MRI scans and found it difficult in any way please let us know before your appointment. 

Preparation for my PET/CT scan?

• You should not eat for six hours prior to your appointment time, though you should drink plenty of plain water, but please avoid water which is flavoured or diluted with cordial.
• For Brain scans patients only need to fast for 3 hours prior to your appointment time.
• Please avoid any strenuous exercise 24hrs prior to your appointment (muscles use glucose to replace glycogen stores)
• Please continue to take your usual medication on the day of the scan including pain killers (unless you need to take food with them). Bring your medication with you should it coincide with your scan time.

• No caffeine 12 hours prior to your appointment.

What will happen during my appointment?

After you have been greeted at reception, a radiographer will explain the procedure. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding the PET/CT scan at this point.

A radiographer will then take a short medical history from you to assist the doctor who reads the scan. The radiographer will then inject a small amount of 18FDG (low-dose radioactive form of glucose) into a vein in your arm. You will then rest for approximately 1 hour prior to your scan.

You will then be asked to visit the toilet and change into a gown or other metal free piece of clothing and then be taken through for your scan, which will last approximately 30 minutes.

You will then be free to leave the PET/CT unit.

How much radiation do I receive from the scan?  

Equivalent to a period of a few years natural background radiation.

What do I do after the scan?

You will be able to eat and drink as soon as the procedure is finished and then go    home.

How do I get my results?

The scan is usually reviewed within 48 hours and the result will be sent to the doctor who referred you for the PET/CT scan within 4-5 working days. If you have an appointment sooner please inform us at the time of your appointment.

Patient Satisfaction

Accredited to ISO9001: 2008 for the quality of service that we give to our patients we have demonstrated our ability to consistently deliver high quality clinical imaging at low cost. Patients are key to understanding exactly how well we achieve our objectives and maintain our high standards. We perform regular patient questionnaires on a monthly basis and we measure the individual responses to ensure high standards. We learn form these responses and work hard to continually improve our facilities and staff and our service to our patients.