PET Scan: What To Expect

In general, most cardiac PET/CT exams take less than 1 hour
You will check in and get prepared for your scan starting with questions about your medical history
You will be asked to lie down on a scanning table made especially for the PET/CT camera
Medication will be administered through an IV line in a vein in your arm
Small pads, electrodes, will be placed on your chest, so we monitor the electrical activity of your heart throughout the study
A small amount of radiopharmaceutical will be given through your IV line
A special camera, called a PET scanner, detects the radiation energy the tracer releases
The PET scanner creates 3D computer images of your heart based on the energy it detects
After the exam, a provider will remove the IV from your arm or hand at the end of the test. You can change out of your hospital gown and go home. Someone will need to drive you home if you have had a sedative.
Be sure to drink a lot of water over the next 24 hours so you can flush the tracer out of your system.