The procedure of the examination
How is the examination done, how long does it take?
Patient care is provided in comfortable, friendly and patient-centred conditions in ScanoMed’s diagnostic centres. A PET-CT examination usually takes between 100 and 145 minutes, during which a radiopharmaceutical tracer is administered to patients by intravenous injection.
You will need to bring your ID card, social security card, previous medical records (CT, MR) and CDs or download codes for previous images to the examination.
First, you will go to the reception of the PET-CT centre, where we will take your personal details, fill in the necessary paperwork and briefly explain the procedure.
You will then be asked to sign a Patient Declaration of Rights, which confirms that you have been given the necessary information and that you agree to the test.
Book an appointment first!
Our private patients can come for an examination within 48 hours of registration.
The procedure of the examination
Examinations are carried out by appointment, only by prior arrangement. You will be informed of your scheduled appointment by letter, email or telephone.
Before the examination, fasting for 6 hours (4 hours for FET PET-CT) and adequate blood glucose levels are required, and activities involving physical exertion should be avoided for 72 hours before the examination.
Please bring with you to the examination any previous documentation relating to your condition, in particular any previous imaging records, and any CD or download codes for viewing previous images (CT, MRI).
The examination is time-consuming and can take several hours. Please arrive precisely at the time indicated in the notice or at the time arranged by telephone. Bring your ID, social security card, previous final reports, test results, CT, MR films and/or CDs or download codes
for previous images.
During the assessment, our staff will measure your blood glucose levels, ask you about your medical history and copy your previous records. If you are claustrophobic or anxious, you can bring a mild sedative and take it.
The radiotracer is administered by intravenous injection using an automated delivery system. There are no noticeable effects or side effects following administration.
After administration of the tracer, you should wait for about 60 minutes in complete physical and mental rest. During this time, you will be asked to consume approximately 1 litre of water
or – depending on the type of test – a contrast agent diluted with water, to obtain a more accurate visualization of the intestinal tract.
One of our staff will accompany you to the camera room and help you to lie down on the examination table. Removable dentures, jewellery and piercings must be removed beforehand, but you do not need to undress.
During the scan, the table will move with you through the PET-CT camera according to a set programme, while you lie still for 4-6 minutes. The first nearly 1 minute of the CT scan is done with little noise. This is followed by the PET scan, which is completely silent. The PET-CT camera is equipped with microphones and speakers that allow you to talk to the operator.
If there are any problems during the examination, you can report them to our staff immediately.
After the examination is completed, you will be helped down from the examination table by a
member of our staff, after which you can leave immediately. It is important that, although the half-life of the tracer is almost 2 hours, for safety reasons you should avoid children and pregnant women for 24 hours after the test, but it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids
and urinate frequently to speed up the elimination of the tracer.
During the registration process, the helpdesk will inform you when your report is expected to be ready.
In the case of a private PET-CT scan, you can collect your results in person or by proxy at the reception desk of our scan centre on the working day following the scan – in which case you will also have the opportunity to consult the specialist who performed the scan – or we will send them by e-mail and post them to you on request. You can also consult the diagnostician by telephone after receiving your report, if you have any questions.
How to prepare for the examination?
It is important that before the PET-CT scan:
- avoid activities involving physical exertion for 72 hours
- Do not eat before 6 hours, but drink plenty of water/decarbonated mineral water,
- take your medicines as prescribed,
- if you have diabetes, please let us know when making an appointment for a PET-CT scan
- on that day you are not allowed to drink alcohol, smoke, chew gum or suck on
sweets!
It is important that you bring your ID card, social security card, previous records (CT, MR) and CDs or download codes for previous images.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail or phone: info@scanomed.hu
ScanoMed Budapest
PET-CT examinations financed by the NEAK: (+36) 1 422 3880
Private PET-CT examinations: (+36) 30 639 3500
ScanoMed Debrecen
Examinations financed by the NEAK: (+36) 52 526 020
Private PET-CT examinations: (+36) 30 206 8922
SPECT-CT and isotope therapy exminations: (+36) 30 648 1828
