FAQS

It is VERY important that you DO NOT eat or consume any calories for ideally 6 hours before the examination, this includes sugar free bars/drinks/ chewing gum etc. This is because we use a radioactive glucose (sugar) to do the investigation. If you eat before the study, then the radioactive glucose will be taken up by all your muscles and we will not be able to interpret the study adequately. 

This is why it is of utmost importance to follow these instructions. PLEASE inform us BEFORE we give you the injection if you ate or drank something accidentally less than 4 hours before your study. We will then have to rebook the study. If you do not tell us, we will be able to see this when looking at your scan and will still need to rebook the study. 

No, this injection is completely safe, even if you are a diabetic. It will NOT influence/change your blood sugar level. Please refer to the Patient Corner “What if I am Diabetic? ” or contact the PET/CT centre BEFORE coming for the investigation for specific preparation for diabetic patients.

Absolutely, we do not use iodinated contrast agents. The injection we give is completely safe in patients with an allergy to iodine.

No, we will not continue with the study if you are pregnant. Although the radiation dose used is relatively low, unnecessary radiation exposure to the fetus is not advisable. We would defer the study until after you have given birth.

Yes, you can. The radioactivity is not excreted in breastmilk. Radiation exposure to your baby is from close contact with you while you are breastfeeding. We advise you to express your breastmilk and have someone else give the milk to the baby for at least 8 hours after the examination. For this reason, it is also advisable to restrict any close contact with your baby (or small children) for this time period after the examination.

Please contact the PET/CT BEFORE your examination for instructions on breastfeeding before and after the investigation.

Studies have shown that 2 hours after injection of the radioactive tracer, the radioactivity has worn off to such an extent that good quality imaging is almost not possible. In order to be super cautious, we recommended a safe time span of 4 hours post injection prior to close mingling with family and children without any concern. We do however advise to restrict close contact for prolonged periods with small children/babies (e.g. carrying around a small baby/breastfeeding) until about 8 hours after the investigation.

Nuclear medicine is a medical speciality that is used to diagnose and sometimes treat disease in a safe and painless manner. Nuclear medicine procedures are a way to collect medical information that may be difficult to obtain with conventional procedures, or necessitate more expensive and invasive tests. Nuclear medicine is unique because it provides doctors with information about both structure and function of organs. The procedures often identify abnormalities very early in the progression of disease. This early detection allows a disease to be treated sooner in its course when a more successful outcome may be possible.

Radiopharmaceuticals emit energy known as gamma rays (similar to X-rays) that can be detected by special types of cameras (such as PET, SPECT, or gamma cameras). These cameras work online with computers to form images that provide detailed information about the part of the body being imaged. These cameras come in different shapes and sizes. The nuclear medicine specialist will select the best camera type based on which area of the body and for what reason it will be scanned and the best technology available. Some cameras move across the body, some rotate around the body, and some do not move at all. These cameras do not hurt or make any noise. Furthermore, unlike X-rays, CT scanners, ultrasounds, or MRIs, nuclear medicine cameras transmit no radiation through the patient.

If nuclear medicine is used to help treat your condition, the tracer is designed in such a way to go to the diseased area allowing treatment to be targeted to this site of the disease.

A nuclear medicine RADIOGRAPHER or TECHNOLOGIST is a uniquely trained individual, highly educated in the theory and practice of nuclear medicine technology whose responsibilities include the preparation of radiopharmaceuticals, calibrating the dose, its administration and operation of the special imaging equipment.

No, nuclear medicine is a well established and proven discipline.  It was first used over 60 years ago, making it older than CT, MRI, and ultrasound.  Nuclear medicine procedures are now common in most countries in the world.

ements, but there are important differences. Where the latter provide information primarily about the body structures, nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging procedures make possible measurements of regional body functions. Radiological imaging procedures will show how an organ looks, nuclear medicine will show how the organ works. Combine the two and we have a winning formula for medical diagnostic success.

Don’t let the words “nuclear” or “radioisotope” scares you. Nuclear medicine procedures are designed to expose you to the least radiation possible while successfully performing the procedure. The radioactive material is given in very small doses, does not make you feel differently, loses radioactivity within a short period of time and quickly leaves the body (usually within the first 24 hours). For your comfort, all tracers are prepared with exceptional care and have been thoroughly tested, controlled and approved the corresponding Medicine Control Council, Authority or Administration of a respective country.

Nuclear medicine procedures are commonly performed in children and in special circumstances pregnant women. They are given the appropriate, adjusted dose of radiopharmaceutical to image the patient.

You will be given a small dose of the radiopharmaceutical, usually intravenously, sometimes orally or by inhalation. Depending on which type of scan is being performed, the imaging will either be done immediately after you receive the tracer, a few hours, or even a few days after your injection.

When you are ready for imaging you will be asked to lie down while the camera is positioned over your body. While the images are being taken, you must remain as still as possible. Imaging time varies, generally ranging from 20 to 45 minutes.