You may also be asked to drink a contrast liquid. You might also get contrast liquid through your IV. This contrast liquid helps make the pictures clearer. Right before the test begins, you will be asked to go to the bathroom to empty your bladder.

This liquid can make your IV area feel hot or itchy. You may also have a metallic taste in your mouth. These feelings should go away in a few minutes. If you have a more serious reaction, such as trouble breathing, say something right away.

When it is time for the scan to begin, the technologist will help you position your body comfortably on a table. You will likely lie on your back, but you may need to lie on your stomach or side. This depends on what part of your body needs to be scanned.

 

Sometimes a PET-CT scan is used to plan radiation therapy to treat the cancer. In this case, your body position will be very important. The technologist position you with a mask or cast. These tools help you keep your body very still during the scan.

The PET-CT machine looks like a large donut. When it starts, the table slides quickly through the hole in the centre. This helps show if you are in the right position. Then the table slides slowly back and forth. A staff member will watch the test from a nearby room. You can talk to them and they can talk to you.

Will I be comfortable during the scan?

 

The staff will make you as comfortable as possible. A PET-CT scan does not hurt. But some positions might be uncomfortable or tiring. You need to lie still for the entire scan. You might also need to keep your arms above your head. The staff member might ask you to hold your breath sometimes. Motion from breathing can cause blurry pictures.

 

The staff member might also raise, lower, or tilt the table during the scan. This gets pictures from different angles. Ask them to tell you when the table will move.

Your appointment will last 1 hour to 3 hours. Once the radioactive substance gets to the right area through the IV, the scan itself usually only takes about 30 minutes. If the machine scans a large area, the test might take longer. The staff member can tell you about how long it will take.

When the scan is finished, you might need to stay on the table while a doctor looks at the images to check to make sure the images are not blurry.