You must sign a consent form before having this test. You will be told not to eat anything for 4 - 6 hours before the PET scan, although you will be able to drink water.

Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

Also tell your health care provider about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines that you are taking, because they may interfere with the test.

Be sure to mention if you have any allergies, or if you've had any recent imaging studies using injected dye (contrast).

During the test, you may need to wear a hospital gown. Take off any jewelry, dentures, and other metal objects because they could affect the scan results.

You will feel a sharp prick when the needle with the radioactive substance is inserted into your vein. You shouldn't feel anything during the actual PET scan.

A PET scan can reveal the size, shape, position, and some function of organs.

This test can be used to:

• Check brain function
• Diagnose cancer, heart problems, and brain disorders
• See how far cancer has spread
• Show areas in which there is poor blood flow to the heart

Several PET scans may be taken over time to determine how well you are responding to treatment for cancer or another illness.

For more information see:

• Brain PET scan
• Breast PET scan
• Heart PET scan
• Lung PET scan

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PET scan Results

Review Date: 11/21/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)