Preparing for a PET Scan

The day before having a PET scan

• Try to only eat foods that are low in carbohydrates, such as:
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Vegetables 
• Do not exercise one full day (24 hours) before the scan.

6 hours before the PET scan

• Do not eat or drink anything, including gum, candy, and breath mints.
• Only drink plain water.

If your child is getting sedation for the PET scan, someone from the Procedural Sedation Unit will call to give you more information. 

Preparing for a PET scan

When it is time for your child’s PET scan, a nuclear medicine technologist (tech) will get you and your child from the Radiology waiting room and walk you to a private room.

Next, the tech or a nurse will give your child an IV.

• An IV is a small, flexible tube that goes into a vein in the arm or hand.
• They can use numbing medicine for the IV that helps your child not to feel the poke from the IV as much.
• Learn more information about the IV process.
• If your child has a port, central line, or PICC, they may use that instead of placing an IV.

Next, the tech will put a small amount of the radioisotope in through the IV. 

Your child will wait for 45 minutes to 1 hour before they have their PET scan pictures taken. This gives the radioisotope time to move through your child's body. During the waiting time:

• The room will be kept warm and the lights will be turned down to help the radioisotope do its job.
• Your child can watch tv, listen to music, play on a tablet, or read
• If your child is moving around a lot or is very active, the PET scan results can be affected.
  • Your child will need to stay as calm as possible.

After your child has waited 45 minutes to 1 hour, they will need to go pee in the bathroom connected to their room.
Next, you and your child will go to the PET room. You can stay in the room with your child during the PET scan.

• You will wear a lead apron.
• If you are pregnant, you will need to wait outside of the room during the PET scan.

Your child will lay down on the PET camera bed. 

The tech will put a seatbelt over your child to keep them safe.

The bed will slowly move up and down and back and forth to get your child in the right place for their pictures.

• Your child must lay completely still for 30-45 minutes while the pictures are taken.
• Your child can listen to music, movies, or podcasts during their PET scan through a phone or tablet speaker. They cannot wear headphones during the PET scan.
  • You can bring a device from home or use our iPod.

The tech will be behind a window controlling the PET camera.

They will be able to see and talk to your child during the PET scan.

If your child’s doctor has ordered a CT scan too, it will be done right after the PET scan on the same machine.

When your child is all done with their PET scan, the tech will help your child get up and will take out the IV.

After the PET scan

Have your child drink a lot of water the rest of the day.
If your child wears diapers or pull ups, use gloves to change them for the first 3 hours after the PET scan.

Your doctor will give you the results of the PET scan within 24 to 48 hours. 

The day before having a PET Brain scan

• Try to only eat foods that are low in carbohydrates, such as:
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Vegetables 
• Do not exercise one full day (24 hours) before the scan.

6 hours before the PET Brain scan

• Do not eat or drink anything, including gum, candy, and breath mints.
• Only drink plain water.

If your child is getting sedation for the PET scan, someone from the Procedural Sedation Unit will call to give you more information. 

Preparing for a PET Brain scan

If your child is having a PET Brain scan because of seizures, you will go to EEG first. At EEG, they will place lead stickers on your child’s head. 

Learn more about the EEG part of the PET Brain scan in this video:

Then, you will check in at the Radiology department. 

When it is time for your child’s PET scan, a nuclear medicine technologist (tech) will get you and your child from the Radiology waiting room and walk you to a private room.

Next, the tech or a nurse will give your child an IV.

• An IV is a small, flexible tube that goes into a vein in the arm or hand.
• They can use numbing medicine for the IV that helps your child not to feel the poke from the IV as much.
• Learn more information about the IV process.
• If your child has a port, central line, or PICC, they may use that instead of placing an IV.

Next, the tech will put a small amount of the radioisotope in through the IV. 

Next, your child will wait for 10 minutes.

• The room will be kept warm, and the lights will be turned down.
• Your child will need to stay as calm as possible.
• Your child can not watch TV or use technology like phones or tablets while waiting. 

Then, the tech will put a small amount of the radioisotope in through the IV. 

Your child will wait for 20 minutes before they have their PET scan pictures taken. This gives the radioisotope time to move through your child's body. During the waiting time:

• The room will be kept warm, and the lights will be turned down to help the radioisotope do its job.
• If your child is moving around a lot or is very active, the PET scan results can be affected.
  • Your child will need to stay as calm as possible.
  • Your child can not watch TV or use technology like phones or tablets while waiting.

After you child has waited for 20 min, they will need to go pee in the bathroom connected to their room.

Next, you and your child will go to the PET room. You can stay in the room with your child during the PET scan.

• You will wear a lead apron.
• If you are pregnant, you will need to wait outside of the room during the PET scan.

Your child will lay down on the PET camera bed. 

The tech will put a seatbelt over your child to keep them safe.

The bed will slowly move up and down and back and forth to get your child in the right place for their pictures.

• Your child must lay completely still for 10 minutes while the pictures are taken. 

The tech will be behind a window controlling the PET camera.

They will be able to see and talk to your child during the PET scan.

If your child’s doctor has ordered a CT scan too, it will be done right after the PET scan on the same machine.

When your child is all done with their PET scan, the tech will help your child get up and will take out the IV.

After the PET Brain scan

Have your child drink a lot of water the rest of the day.

If your child wears diapers or pull ups, use gloves to change them for the first 3 hours after the PET scan.

Your doctor will give you the results of the PET scan within 24 to 48 hours.