FDG may accumulate in areas of infection or inflammation. Patients should be referred for PET when they are free of these conditions. The reconstructed resolution on our PET scanner is 6mm. Smaller malignant lesions sometimes may not be detected, but PET is generally more sensitive than an MRI scan of the body. PET Center mails confirmation letter with directions and answers to frequently asked questions within 24 hours.
Patient arrives for appointment, having fasted for at least four hours.
Physician takes a brief history. Patient receives an intravenous injection of 18F-FDG, a glucose analog. One hour after the injection, the scan begins. Scans last about 60 minutes. Patient may leave as soon as a nuclear medicine physician reviews the study, which is usually within a few minutes following the scan.