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PET is a safe, effective and non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique that provides images of the human body, similar to MRI and CT scans, but with a big difference.
MRI and CT provide highly detailed images of the body that include the size and shape of organs and lesions. PET scans show the chemical and functional changes within the body. Since functional changes often take place before physical changes, PET can be a key to early diagnosis of cancer, as well as diseases of the brain and heart. The detail it provides can help your doctor decide on the best treatment.
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When you/your child arrive, a technologist will greet you and explain the procedure in detail. Obtaining a PET scan involves three steps: injection of a radiopharmaceutical, a waiting period, and scanning by the PET machine.
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- The radiopharmaceutical: Before the PET scan, your child's sugar level will be checked. Your child will then be injected with a harmless substance known as a radiopharmaceutical. This substance contains very small amounts of radioactive molecules. It will not cause any sensation or harmful effects.
The type of radiopharmaceutical selected is designed to go to the part of the body that is being tested. Once it reaches its destination, it will transmit signals (gamma rays) that can be detected from outside the body by the PET scanner.
For example, a common type of radiopharmaceutical, fluorine-18 FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose), acts almost exactly like sugar. The body uses sugar for fuel, so the radioactive sugar goes to the parts of the body that are very active, such as the brain, the heart and the muscles. The PET can "read" any chemical changes within those areas.
- The waiting period: After the injection, you/your child must wait for 30 to 60 minutes, depending on which type of PET scan you/your child is having. During this time, while the radiopharmaceutical is circulating within the body, it is extremely important for you/your child to be very quiet; no talking, reading, or sleeping. These activities can alter the radiopharmaceutical distribution. The lights in the room will be dim to help you/your child relax.
- PET Scanning: After the waiting period, the technologist will ask you/your child to empty your/his/her bladder and will bring you/him/her into the PET suite. You/your child will be asked to lie on the imaging table and remain still while the images are taken. The PET scanner does not touch your child, nor will you/he/she feel anything from the scanner. Parents or family members are welcome to sit in the room with you/your child during imaging. The technologist will be watching the procedure through the window and by TV monitor. Depending on the examination type, you/your child will be in the scanner from 30 minutes to one hour. While you/your child lies within the scanner, a computer will create images of the body.
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- Arrive on time for you/your child's appointment. Tardiness may result in rescheduling.
- Actual imaging time will be approximately one half hour to one hour, but you/your child should plan to be with us for approximately one and one half to two hours.
- Do not ingest any form of caffeine (including soda, tea and chocolate), nicotine, or alcohol 12 hours prior to the PET scan.
- No solid food or fluids four hours prior to the PET scan. Patients are allowed to drink water. You/your child may take any medications that you/he/she normally take(s) the morning of the exam.
- Wear warm and comfortable clothes.
- If MR and/or CT scans have been done at a facility other than Children's Hospital Boston, please bring those images with you. The nuclear medicine physician will compare the MR and CT scan to the PET scan.
- If you/your child's doctor has given you a requisition for the exam, please bring it with you. If we have to call the doctor's office to get the requisition after you have arrived for the appointment, this will cause a delay in performing the scan.
- If you/your child is scheduled for sedation or if you think sedation is necessary (to hold still) and a nuclear medicine staff member has not contacted you, please call us at 617-355-7010 for specific instructions.
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You/your child may experience some discomfort associated with the insertion of the intravenous needle. The needle used for the procedure is small. Once the radiopharmaceutical is injected, the needle is withdrawn and a gauze bandage with adhesive tape is placed over the site of the injection. The area where the injection was given may be a little sore.
Although the camera may appear large and intimidating, it does not touch you/your child.
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Once the study is complete, it will be evaluated for quality. If there was too much motion, the study may need to be repeated. If there was no motion, you/your child will be free to leave and resume normal activity.
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The images will be processed and then the nuclear medicine physician will evaluate and interpret the study and promptly inform you/your child's referring physician of the results.
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For more information about Nuclear Medicine/PET, please contact us at:
Division of Nuclear Medicine/PET
Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue, Pavilion 2
Boston, MA 02115
Main Number: 617-355-7010
Fax Number: 617-730-0623
Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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To schedule an appointment please contact your referring physician as their office must schedule it for you. If you currently have an appointment and need to reschedule or are unable to make the appointment, please call us at least 48 hours in advance at 617-355-7010.
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