PET scan

[mindutopia]

Can anyone tell me what a PET scan is like? Is it more like a CT scan or an MRI? Any tricks for getting through it?

I’ve had CT and MRI scans, but this will be my first PET scan. The CT scans I don’t mind, but not a fan of the MRI (it’s my head so I don’t like being shoved head first in 😬). Just wanted to think ahead so I could prepare myself. Do they usually do a contrast as well?

A PET is essentially a type of CT. You'll usually have a radioisotope injection into a vein rather drinking a contrast solution. It's a very small dose of radiation and the scan probably will be about 40ish mins. I work in an offshoot department of radiology and deal with PET scan images but have no other advice about the actual scan as I only actually see the end result. Worth giving the department a call if you're worried about anything.

It’s more like a CT scan. Not nearly as noisy as an MRI. I was given something radioactive and told I couldn’t be around anyone who was pregnant for 48 hours after. If you managed the CT you should be ok
I hope it all goes well.

Had a PET scan over 10 years ago. The actual scan was fine the hardest thing was trying to stay completely still for 30 minutes or something after I had the radioactive substance administered.

Its like a CT scan in that you aren't in a tunnel, but it takes a long time to get the images like an MRI. You do have to do a lot of waiting around (about 2 hours) after the injection to let the radioactive medication bind to the parts of your body that it needs to and you will have to wait in their waiting room while that happens, so make sure to have a power bank for your phone

This is so helpful, thank you! Great, like a CT scan sounds great as I don’t mind those. It’s good to know about planning how long it will take as I currently can’t drive due to surgery, so Dh has to haul me everywhere and the hospital is an hour away, and we have to sort dc if it runs over school run, etc.