| Frequently
Asked Questions |
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| 1. |
Will
I be exposed to radiation? |
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Yes,
but the exposure is similar to other diagnostic
tests like CT and x-ray. |
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| 2. |
Will
I experience any side effects from a PET
Scan? |
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| |
No.
PET scanning is very safe and you will not
have any side effects from the injection. |
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| 3. |
Is
my PET scan covered by my insurance? |
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Most
PET scans for cancer evaluation will be covered.
Additional coverage may be available for heart
viability and brain disorders. This will be
reviewed with your physician’s office
prior to your exam. |
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| 4. |
What
is the recommended number of FDG injections
a patient can receive in a given time frame
for PET imaging? |
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| |
Although
there are no published guidelines, some facilities
have administered as many as 5 10mCi FDG doses
on research volunteers on 5 consecutive days.
In others, PET/CTs are repeated in a few days
if the patient had something to eat or moved
to create a poor quality image. The shortest
clinical interval is typically 21 days-- for
evaluating tumor response to one cycle of chemotherapy. |
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Some
patients will get 5-6 PET/CTs per year. But
in general, the need for information should
exceed the tiny radiation risk of scanning. |
