Positron Emission Tomography Of The Chest

What you should know

• A positron emission tomography scan is also called a PET scan. You may have a PET scan to take pictures of body areas, such as your chest. Before a PET scan, a small amount of radiation, called tracer, is put into your body. The tracer shows caregivers how chemicals, such as glucose, are working in your tissues. A PET scan of your chest also may show blood flow through your heart. A PET scan may be done alone, or together with a computed tomography (CT) scan or a stress test. Ask your caregiver for more information about other tests that you may need with a PET scan.
  
  
• If you have cancer, a PET scan with a CT scan may show if it has spread to your chest or lymph nodes. Your lymph nodes are glands (lumps of tissue) that help fight infection. You may need a PET scan, with or without a CT scan, if you have chest pain or trouble breathing. The scan may show what is causing your symptoms. The scan can show swelling, infection, or disease in your chest, lungs, or esophagus. It may also show if your heart is damaged from heart disease, or after a heart attack. The scan may find a tumor (growth) in your chest or lung. The results of the scan can help you and your caregiver plan your treatment.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• Small growths in your chest, lungs, or esophagus may not be found with a PET scan. If the results are unclear, you may need another PET scan. There is a small chance that the radiation from the scan increases your risk of getting cancer. If you are female and are pregnant or breastfeeding, a PET scan may harm your baby.
  
  
• Without a PET scan, problems in your chest, lungs, or esophagus may not be found. If a problem is not found, you may not get the treatment you need. Without treatment, your medical problem could get worse, and you may die. Talk with your caregiver if you have questions about your PET scan, condition, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your test:

• Ask your caregiver if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicine. If you have diabetes, ask caregivers if you should stop taking diabetes medicine, such as insulin, before the scan. Diabetes is a disease that causes high blood sugar.
  
  
• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• If you are female, tell your caregiver if you know or think you might be pregnant. Tell your caregiver if you are breastfeeding.

The night before your test:

• Ask caregivers for instructions about what you should eat and drink before your scan.
  
  
  • You may need to stop eating or drinking 4 to 6 hours before your PET scan. You may be asked to stop having drinks with caffeine 12 hours before your scan. Drinks with caffeine include coffee, tea, and cola.
    
    
  • You may be having a myocardial perfusion PET scan to check the blood flow in your heart. Before this test, you cannot have drinks with alcohol for at least 12 hours before your scan. Drinks with alcohol include beer, wine, and whiskey. You also may not smoke for at least 12 hours before the scan.
  
  

The day of your test:

• Write down the date, time, and location of your PET scan.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Your caregiver will check how much sugar is in your blood before your PET scan. A blood sample may be taken from a fingertip, or a vein (blood vessel) in your hand or arm.
  
  
• Caregivers will put an intravenous (IV) tube into your vein. An IV is a tube that is used to give you medicine or liquids. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. You will be given tracer through the IV.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You may be asked to urinate before the test begins. Tracer will be put in your IV. You will need to lie still for about an hour as the tracer moves through your body. Tell caregivers if you need to move during this time. Caregivers may give you medicines through your IV to help you feel calm and relaxed.
  
  
• You will lie on your back on a table attached to the PET scan machine. When the PET scan begins, the table will move through a large round hole in the middle of the machine. A camera will take pictures of your chest. You will need to lie very still, but caregivers may ask you to change your body position during the test. Caregivers will see the pictures on a computer. When the PET scan is over, the table will move out of the machine.

After your test:

Do not get up from the table until caregivers tell you to. When caregivers see that you are okay, you may be able to go home. If you are staying in the hospital, you will be taken to your room. If you are female and you are breastfeeding, do not breastfeed right after the test. Talk to your caregiver about breastfeeding after your test.

Contact a caregiver if

• You cannot make it to your PET scan.
  
  
• You have diabetes and your blood sugar is high on the day before, or morning of the test.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You are coughing up blood.
  
  
• You have new or worse trouble breathing.
  
  
• Call 911 or an ambulance if you have any signs of a heart attack:
  
  
  • Discomfort in the center of your chest that feels like squeezing, pressure, fullness, or pain, that lasts for more than a few minutes or keeps returning
    
    
  • Discomfort or pain in your back, neck, jaw, stomach, or one or both of your arms
    
    
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
    
    
  • Having trouble breathing
    
    
  • A sudden cold sweat, particularly in combination with chest discomfort or trouble breathing
    
    
  • Feeling very lightheaded or dizzy, particularly in combination with chest discomfort or trouble breathing

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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