Whenever possible, patients or their physicians should have at least two days between time of scheduling and their PET-CT appointment, as they will need to be on a low carbohydrate, high protein diet two days prior to the PET-CT scan.

Let the scheduler know if s/he is diabetic or is allergic.

The PET-CT coordinator will obtain a short medical history over the telephone, including surgeries and any treatments the patient has undergone, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. The coordinator will also ask about recent diagnostic imaging exams such as MRI, CT or nuclear medicine studies in order to secure copies of the films.

Because the patient will be taking medication to relax him/her at the time of the exam, they may not drive.  A driver is needed following the scan to take the patient home.

The patient will be on a low carbohydrate, high protein diet for two days prior to the exam and asked to refrain from strenuous activity or exercise 24 hours prior to the scan. Detailed instructions can be e-mailed, faxed or mailed to the patient at the time of scheduling.  The patient can only have water starting at midnight the day of the exam (no food, absolutely no beverages other than water,  no chewing gum and no smoking the morning of the exam).