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You may be referred for a PET scan to:
A PET scan can be combined with a CT scan (called a PET-CT scan) or an MRI scan (called a PET-MRI scan) if doctors need more detailed images.
The hospital where you're having the PET scan will tell you what you need to do before the scan.
For example, you'll usually be asked to:
Tell the hospital if:
Talk to a GP or doctor at the hospital if you're feeling anxious about having a PET scan or have a fear of small spaces (claustrophobia).
A PET scanner is open at both ends, but some people may still find it claustrophobic. You may be able to have medicine to help you relax.
A PET scan is done in a specialist hospital by a healthcare professional called a radiographer.
The scan usually takes around 30 to 60 minutes.
You'll need to remove any jewellery and other objects containing metal. You may also be asked to change into a hospital gown.
About an hour before the scan, you'll be given an injection of a small amount of a radioactive liquid (tracer) into a vein in your arm. This lets doctors spot any possible problems inside your body.
You'll need to lie down and rest so the tracer can work properly.
A PET scanner is a large machine with a short tunnel through it and a flat bed that moves through the scanner.
You'll usually be able to go home soon after the scan. You can eat and drink straight away.
The radiation from the tracer drops to a safe level quickly and will be gone from your body within a few hours. Drinking plenty of fluid will help flush it from your body.
For safety, after the scan you'll need to avoid spending a long time or having close contact with young children or anyone who is pregnant. Hospital staff will tell you how long you need to do this for, such as for the rest of the day.
It usually takes 1 or 2 weeks for you to get your PET scan results. The images need to be looked at by a specialist called a radiologist.
The radiologist will send your PET scan results to the doctor who referred you for the scan. You may need a follow-up appointment to talk about your results.
If you have not heard anything after a few weeks, contact the doctor who referred you.
The doctor should talk to you about your results and explain what happens next.
Ask to talk to a healthcare professional if you have questions about your results, or do not understand them.
When you have a PET scan, the tracer injection that you're given contains a small amount of radiation.
This is usually safe as the amount is very low and it leaves your body quickly. But any radiation can very slightly increase your risk of getting cancer in the future.
If you have a PET-CT scan, there'll also be radiation from the CT scan, but this will still be a small amount.
Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or worries about having the scan.
If you're breastfeeding the hospital staff will tell you what to do to make sure it's safe for your baby, such as expressing milk before the scan and not breastfeeding for a few hours afterwards.
It's also possible to have an allergic reaction to the tracer injection, but this is very rare. Tell the radiographer straight away if you start to feel unwell during the scan.
