What to Expect on the Day of Your PET/CT Fusion Scan

To help ease any of your concerns regarding your PET/CT fusion scan, please review the following outline.  It will help you prepare for your scan, and answer most of your questions.  Please do not hesitate to call us at 703-698-5593 for additional information.

  1. How to prepare for your PET/CT scan:
    1. We encourage you to drink at least 8 glasses of water during the 6 hours prior to your scan.  It is very important that you do not eat or drink anything else during this period.
    2. You may take all of your medications on the day of your scan (diabetic patients please see below). 
      1. Diabetic patients
        1. Do not take your insulin on the morning of your scan.
        2. You may take all of your oral medications on the morning of your scan.
        3. Eat a small dinner that is low in carbohydrates on the evening prior to your scan.
        4. Other than water, please do not eat or drink after midnight.
        5. Your blood sugar must be less than 150 mg/dl on the morning of your scan because you will be injected with a radioactive glucose-like substance called F18-FDG.
    1. Avoid caffeine for 24 hours prior to your scan.
    2. Do not engage in strenuous activity during the 24-hour period prior to your scan.
    3. If possible, wear clothing that does not contain any metal such as snaps or zippers.  If this cannot be avoided, we are happy to provide hospital scrubs. 
    4. To function optimally the scanner is maintained at a cool temperature.  This makes the prep rooms a bit chilly so we suggest you bring a sweater or sweatshirt.  We are also happy to provide heated blankets.
    5. Please bring the following items on the date of your scan:
      1. All previous diagnostic imaging reports (e.g. MRI, CT, nuclear scans) that pertain to your diagnosis and are less than 12 months old.
      2. Driver’s license
      3. Insurance card(s)
    1. Please plan to be with us for 3 hours on the day of your appointment.  It will probably take less time than that, but we ask that you allow for that amount of time.
    2. We will give you a courtesy reminder call on the day prior to your appointment.
  1. What to expect on the date of your appointment:
    1. We ask you to arrive 15-minutes prior to your injection time to complete some paperwork.  If you feel you may require more time than that, please arrive earlier.  You may also print the paperwork from our website and complete it at home.  To do so, please visit our website at www.metroregionpet.com.  Then, click on the Patient Services link.  On the Patient Services page, look for the big purple circle with the words ‘Expedite Your Registration Process!’ 
    2. At your scheduled injection time, the technologist will accompany you to one of our uptake rooms.  If you have family members or friends with you, at this time they will be asked to wait for you in our family waiting room down the hall.  We will do our best to keep them comfortable while they wait for you.  We have a television and snacks for them to enjoy.  We will let them know when you are ready to leave.
    3. The first thing the technologist will do is monitor your blood sugar level.  This is done by taking a droplet of blood from your finger.  You will be given an intravenous injection of a glucose-like substance called F18-FDG.  This substance contains a radioactive tracer that enables the PET scanner to assess your body’s utilization of glucose.  Each dose of F18-FDG is calibrated (created) to be administered at the time of your scheduled injection.  The dose deteriorates rapidly and is very expensive so we ask that you are not late for your appointment.  This is very important.
    4. After receiving your injection, you will remain in the uptake room for approximately 60-70 minutes.  This will give the F18-FDG sufficient time to be distributed throughout your body.  The lights in the uptake room will be made dim to help you relax.  Please be prepared to sit very still during the uptake time.  There is no television, music or magazines in the uptake room.  This is done purposefully to allow for optimal utilization of the glucose by your body. 
    5. It will then be time for your scan.  The scanner consists of a large tube that is open at both ends.  You will be instructed to lie on your back with your arms over your head.  The scanning bed will then slowly move through the tube.
    6. The scan will take approximately 20 - 40 minutes depending on the type of scan your physician requested.  We ask that you remain very still during this time.
    7. After your scan, you will be asked to remain in our waiting room for about 15 minutes while our technologist checks the quality of your images.  If you have family members or friends in our Family Waiting Room, we will ask them to join you at this time.
    8. The report of your scan will be faxed to your physician within 24-48 hours.  At that time, a hard copy of the report as well as images of your scan will be sent overnight via Federal Express.
    9. We kindly ask that requests for a personal copy of your report be directed to your referring physician.
  1. Payment Instructions & Insurance Information
    1. Within 24 hours of scheduling your appointment, a representative from our Insurance Verification Department will contact your insurance company to verify your benefits.  The specifics of your particular plan as well as your diagnosis dictate your insurance company’s coverage guidelines for PET/CT fusion scans.  Please note that some diagnoses are not consistently covered for PET/CT fusion scans.  Our billing team will do its best to collect payment from your insurance company, but please note that denied claims will become the financial responsibility of the patient. 
    2. If you have a co-pay, we kindly request payment at the time of service.
    3. If you have a balance from a previous scan, we request that you pay that balance on the day of your scan.  Payment options are available if requested.
    4. Please note that you will be billed for any remaining balance that results from a co-insurance or deductible.
  1. Early appointments
    1. The main entrance remains locked until about 6:00am.  If the main entrance is still locked when you arrive for your early morning appointment, please note the following: 
      1. There is a directory at the main entrance to the building.
      2. You will see a touchtone pad similar to the numbers on a telephone on the bottom of the directory
      3. Press the # key.
      4. When you hear a tone, dial 050.
      5. Identify yourself to the receptionist and she will buzz you into the building.
  1. Cancellations: It is imperative that you cancel your appointment at least 24 hours prior to the time of your appointment so that we can cancel your F18-FDG dose. 

Thank you for taking the time to review this information.  We know this may be an uneasy time and we are determined to make your experience with us as simple and stress-free as possible.  Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to make this process a bit easier for you.

The staff of Metro Region PET Center

 

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