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Having a PET-CT scan at the EIF QMRI

Watch our video explaining what happens when you arrive for a PET-CT scan at the EIF QMRI.

 

Transcript

"When you arrive at reception, you will be greeted by our receptionist & your appointment & name will be confirmed. You will be taken to our main reception area by the receptionist & asked to wait. You may be asked to complete some paperwork.

When we are ready for you, the radiographer will take you through to the PET-CT scanning department. This is a ‘controlled area’ which can only be accessed by authorised staff

You will be taken to an ‘uptake room’, usually a small room with a trolley or chair. You may be asked to change into a gown. There is a separate changing room to do this.

After the examination has been explained to you by the radiographer, they will give you a very small injection of liquid (radiotracer), which is necessary for the scan to work. This is a little bit radioactive & will make you slightly radioactive for a few hours.

The radiotracer needs time to move through your bloodstream to all your body’s cells. This can take between 60-90 minutes. You will remain in the uptake room during this period. You may read or listen to music.

You will be taken into the scan room & asked to lie on the scanner table. The radiographer will make you comfortable. Depending on what you are having scanned, you may have some ‘electrodes’ placed on your chest at this point to take a trace of your heart. If you are having a contrast injection during the scan, you will be connected to a device which will give you the contrast during the scan. You will be asked to enter the scanner head first or feet first, depending on the type of scan you are having The radiographer will ‘line everything up’ using a laser light. Once this is done, you are moved into the scanner, ready to start the scan.

The scan may take between 30-60 minutes, depending on what is being scanned.

After all the images are taken, your scan is complete & you can leave the scanner. The radiographer will escort you back to the changing room, to change back into your clothes (if you got changed into a gown). You will then be given instructions by the radiographer about being in contact with people for the next few hours, as you may still be slightly radioactive.

Once you are ready, you will be escorted from the department."

 

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