PET / CT Scan Mauritius

How is a PET-CT scan different from a CT scan?

A CT scan shows detailed pictures of the organs and tissues inside your body. A PET scan can find abnormal activity and it can be more sensitive than other imaging tests. It may also show changes to your body sooner. Doctors use PET-CT scans to provide more information about the cancer.

In addition to learning your cancer stage, a PET-CT scan can help the doctor:

⦁ To detect cancer at molecular level and early

⦁ To monitor the treatment of cancer

⦁ To detect re-occurrence of cancer

⦁ Plan radiation therapy

How does a PET-CT scan work?

Before your PET-CT scan, you will get an injection of a small amount of a radioactive sugar called fluorodeoxyglucose-18. This substance is sometimes called FGD-18, radioactive glucose, or a tracer. The cells in your body absorb sugar. Areas that use more energy pick up more of the sugar. Cancer cells tend to use more energy than healthy cells. The PET-CT Scan shows where the radioactive tracer is in your body.

The CT scan takes x-rays of your body from different angles. You might get a shot of dye before the x-rays. This helps some of the details show up better. Finally, a computer combines the PET and CT images. Your doctor gets a detailed 3-D result that shows anything abnormal, including the early detection of cancer.

Is PET- CT Scan safe?

In Mauritius, the PET CT Scan is a first and the benefits of these tests are usually greater than the risks. For your PET-CT scan, a radioactive drug (tracer) will be put into your body. Because the amount of radiation you’re exposed to is small, the risk of negative effects from it is low. But the tracer might:

⦁ Cause a major allergic reaction, in rare instances

⦁ Expose your unborn baby to radiation if you are pregnant

⦁ Expose your child to radiation if you are breast-feeding

Doctors can use lower dose scans or limit the areas that need to be scanned. Make sure all of your doctors know how many imaging scans you have had, including the number and type. This information can help them decide which scans to use in the future to help reduce your risk. If you are concerned about your radiation exposure, talk with your doctor, including asking whether you can have another type of test that uses less radiation instead.

Specialist Technicians in Mauritius for PET-CT Scans

A technician who specialises in doing these types of scans will do your PET-CT scan. After the test is done, a doctor who specialises in looking at the test results will look at your scan. This person is a nuclear medicine specialist or a radiologist. They will decide what the results mean.

How to get ready for a PET-CT scan

When you schedule a PET-CT scan, the staff will tell you how to get ready. Be sure to follow their instructions carefully to avoid affecting your scan results. Talk with the staff about the following topics and ask questions about any information that is unclear or concerning to you.

What to eat – You may be told to drink only clear liquids after midnight the night before the scan. Depending on what part of your body will be scanned, you may need to stop all eating and drinking 4 hours before the scan. For some scans, you can eat and drink normally.

Your medications and health history – Ask whether you should take your usual medications or supplements on the day of the test. Also, let them know if you have diabetes or other medical conditions. In particular, diabetes can alter your test results and the radioactive tracer can impact your blood sugar. If you are breastfeeding or could be pregnant, tell the staff. These scans can put the baby at risk.

Allergies – Let the staff know about any drug or food allergies you have, including any allergic reactions to iodine you may have had in the past.

What to avoid – Don’t do any heavy exercise like running, jogging, or weightlifting 24 hours before your exam. Exercise can make your scans less accurate.

What to wear – Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You will need to remove any clothing that includes metal because metal during the scan. This includes belts, earrings, shirts with snaps or zippers, bras, and glasses. If your clothing cannot be worn during the scan, you can wear a hospital gown. You will be asked to remove any jewellery, so you may want to leave it at home the day of your exam.

Insurance, costs and consent – If you are concerned about the cost of your PET-CT scan, find out what your insurance provider will cover before the scan. Ask how much of the cost you will have to pay. Once you get to the doctor’s office or hospital, the staff will ask you to sign a consent form. This form states that you understand the benefits and risks of the scan and agree to have it.

What happens during the PET-CT scan

A staff member will put an IV into one of your veins. This is a thin tube with a needle attached. The IV feels like a pinprick. Once the IV is in place, you will get the radioactive substance for the scan. You will not feel anything from the radioactive substance.

After the substance has been injected, you must limit your movement and avoid activity, but you can sit in a chair comfortably. The radioactive substance takes 30 to 90 minutes to reach the body parts that will be scanned.

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After the PET-CT scan

You can do normal activities after the scan. This includes driving. The staff will tell you to drink several glasses of water. This helps wash the radioactive substance and dye out of your body.

Pictures from a PET scan display bright spots where the radioactive tracer collected. These spots reveal higher levels of chemical activity and details about how your tissues and organs are functioning. A doctor specially trained to interpret scan images (radiologist) will report the findings to your doctor.
The radiologist may also compare your PET images with images from other tests you’ve undergone recently, such as computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Or the pictures may be combined to provide more detail about your condition.