PET Scan preparation Make sure that your doctor gets the right information, it is essential to prepare for your PET scan. When you schedule a PET Scan, remember that you will be informed about the different precautions and preparation tips that need to be taken before the examination. Following these points will ensure an untroubled…
How PET Scan Work You may be interested in how PET Scan work and what the mechanism behind the images we get is. Before the scan, you will be given an injection called a radiopharmaceutical. It attaches to chemicals that are naturally used in the metabolic processes of organs and tissues. Therefore, the cells of…
Managing Claustrophobia during the Scan Sometimes a PET-CT or CT Scan cannot be avoided, but the thoughts of lying in a giant tube for a long time and having a full-blown anxiety attack are too much to bear if you have claustrophobia. Claustrophobia is the fear of dark or confined spaces, also explained as the fear of feeling…
What should you eat before your PET-CT Scan?
An inappropriate diet can affect the body’s glucose levels resulting in inaccurate results, eating just before the PET-CT scan is not recommended. PET-CT is an advanced nuclear medicine technique that combines Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT Scan).
PET gives functional status and CT provides us with the structural status of the organ or tissue to obtain high-resolution imaging for accurate disease assessment and treatment. Radioactive tracers such as ¹⁸ F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) and ¹⁸F-Sodium Fluoride (¹⁸F-NaF) are either administered intravenously or taken orally, to pinpoint the changes in tissues and organs at a molecular level.
What should you eat before your PET-CT Scan You can consume the prescribed diet mentioned below, 24 hours prior to your visit to the PET-CT scan center.
- Consume a protein-rich and low-carbohydrate diet. The diet that can be followed is listed below
- Protein-rich diet: Meat, chicken, fish, shellfish, crab, nuts, sunflower seeds, and eggs
- Non-starchy vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, and mushrooms
- Beverages: Diet soda and zero-calorie drinks
- Drink ample amount of water to stay hydrated
- Avoid intake of the food mentioned below before the PET-CT scan
- Cereals
- Pasta
- Dry beans
- Fruit and fruit juices
- Sugar, honey, desserts, or candy
- Starchy vegetables such as peas, corn, potatoes
- Alcohol, beer, wine
- Nutritional shakes or smoothies
- Bread
- Rice
- Jams and jellies
- Syrups and Ketchup
- Milk or milk products
- High caffeine food like coffee or tea
- Chewing gum, mints, or tobacco products
- Consumption of any eatables or juices 6 hours before your scheduled appointment is strictly prohibited
Please Note – Preparation time and diet may vary depending on what the PET-CT scan is taken for. Consult a physician for relevant preparation tips.