What’s New
Our Refurbishment
Our Centre for Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT
Elucerim: Our standard MRI contrast agent
What’s New
Our Refurbishment
Our Centre for Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT
Elucerim: Our standard MRI contrast agent
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FDG

PET-CT FDG is the most common type of PET-CT Scan. It is widely used in oncology to detect cancer, determine how far it has spread, and assess how well treatment is working. It is also used to identify areas of infection or inflammation throughout the body. FDG PET-CT scans can also be useful in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and to diagnose and grade lesions of the brain, plus progression of conditions and effectiveness of treatment.

  • There are particular medications you may need to stop taking for this test—specifically somatostatin therapy drugs such as sandostatin. You will generally be required to stop this for 24 hours before your scan. If you take the monthly\injection of sandostatin, we will time your scan to be done in the few days BEFORE your next injection. Please ring us to discuss the timing of your scan if you are taking these medications.
  • We will call you to confirm your booking two days before your scan. We can discuss any concerns you may have. If you suffer from claustrophobia, please let us know.
  • Please arrive well hydrated on the day of your test. You can eat and drink as normal prior to your test.
  • As a radiation precaution, please avoid bringing children along for the scan.
  • If you require sedation (tablet or injection) for the PET scan, please ensure that you do not drive a car home or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day.
  • Wear warm comfortable clothes with no metallic objects (eg an underwire bra, metallic zippers).
  • Bring your Medicare card, referring request and only previous relevant X-rays, PET scans, CT & Nuclear Medicine scans with you.
  • The Isotope used in your scan is ordered individually for each patient a week prior to the scan. Please advise us of any cancelations as soon as possible to avoid a potential charge of $300 to cover the cost of your isotope.

Your total time at our Centre for Nuclear Medicine and PET-CT will be approximately 2 hours but the scan itself will only be about 15-20 minutes. Please arrive 20 minutes prior to your booked time.

  • Our reception staff will book you in and get you to sign a consent for release of information. A doctor will then ask you about your medical history and will review any scans you have brought along.
  • A cannula will be inserted into a vein into your arm or hand through which you will be injected with the PET radioisotope. You will feel nothing from this radioactive injection.
  • You will be asked to sit or lie for 45 minutes in a small room. You can bring something to read or listen to during this time
  • After this, you will be asked to go to the toilet to empty your bladder and then lie on the PET scanner bed for the scan.
  • Although your total time in the hospital will be approximately 2hrs, the scan itself is only about 15-20 minutes
  • While the tunnel of our scanner is larger than most other PET or CT scanners you may feel a little claustrophobic. You will be able to talk to staff during this scan via an intercom in the machine itself.
  • After you have been told that you can leave the PET suite, it is suggested that you go home directly.
  • The results of your scan will be sent directly to your referring doctor.

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