PET/CT Scan
Cardiac PET/CT is a high-resolution imaging stress test. You'll lie on the scanner table while a small amount of radioactive material lets us photograph your heart at rest and under pharmacologic stress.
How to prepare
No caffeine for 24 hours
Caffeine counteracts the medication used during the test, and your appointment will be cancelled if you have any. This includes coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and energy drinks — regular AND decaf. You may drink water, juice, or white milk.
Theophylline-based breathing drugs
If you take a breathing medication that contains theophylline, it must be stopped for 48 hours before your appointment. Check the label and confirm with your doctor before stopping any medication.
Fast for 4 hours before the test
You may have a light breakfast or lunch (juice, water, white milk, toast, cereal) up to 4 hours before your appointment. No food or water in the 4 hours immediately before. If you need to take medications during this 4-hour window, you may do so with a few sips of water. Drink extra water the day before if your veins are hard to access.
Medications
Take all your regular medications as usual unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Use your inhaler or nebulizer at the usual time. Bring your rescue inhaler with you. If you're oxygen-dependent, bring your oxygen.
If you have diabetes
Insulin pump: no change. Insulin-dependent: take half (½) your usual morning dose. Oral medication: do not take the morning of the test.
What to wear
A comfortable, warm, two-piece outfit. No shirts with metal buttons or zippers. Women: no underwire bras. No necklaces. No lotions or powder on your chest or arms. Bring a blanket if you'd like extra warmth. Don't smoke after midnight the night before.
What to bring
A list of your medications, the written order for the test, your insurance card(s), and photo ID.
Comfort and accessibility
You'll lie on the scanner table for about 30 minutes. You go headfirst into the CT scanner for about 2 minutes, then your body moves into the PET scanner for the remaining 25 minutes — your head and arms stay out. The scanner table holds up to 500 pounds. If you use a wheelchair, you'll need to bear weight on your legs to stand and turn onto the table — we can assist but cannot lift you. Tell us if you have claustrophobia, severe anxiety, PTSD, back/arm/leg problems, or trouble breathing when lying flat.
What happens during the test
We place an IV in your arm for an infusion of radioactive material that lets us photograph your heart at rest. After the initial images, you undergo a pharmacologic stress test on the PET scanner table — a second injection happens during the stress phase, then a second set of pictures.
Confirming your appointment
Call within 48 hours to review instructions and confirm your appointment. If we can't speak with you, your test will be rescheduled. Call 856-546-3006 ext. 2250 with questions.