Preparing for Your PET/CT Exam
Please leave any personal belongings (jewelry, glasses, etc.) at home when having an outpatient exam performed at any of our facilities to avoid misplacement.
When to Call the PET/CT Department
Call us in advance of your scan day if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or think there is a chance you might be pregnant.
Please Note: If your blood glucose level is outside of the recommended levels or you have not followed the specific instructions prior to your test (special diet, medications, fasting, etc.), your scan will need to be rescheduled.
Do not hesitate to call us with any questions at 401-444-7777.
Prepare for Your PET/CT Scan
When you arrive in our PET/CT department, you will be asked for the completed brief history sheet and medication list, which you can download and print here:
Download the history sheet to bring with you
Because this test relies on the measurement of metabolic activity of your heart, it is very important that you follow the instructions carefully.
- Review the general directions for PET/CT scan preparation
- Review the directions for a gallium scan
- Review the directions for a fluciclovine scan
- Review the directions for a cardiac scan
- Review the directions for PET/CT research
After Your PET/CT Scan
The radiopharmaceutical used in PET/CT is short-lived and should pose little risk of significant radiation exposure to your family and friends. However it is always good practice to minimize unnecessary radiation exposure to others, especially young children and pregnant women. Therefore, please follow these instructions for approximately eight hours after your scan:
- Avoid unnecessary prolonged contact with young children and pregnant women.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using the restroom.
- Drink plenty of fluids after your scan and empty your bladder frequently as this will help flush the remaining radioactivity from your body.