Brain PET Scan Procedure

There is no more preparation required for the brain PET scan aside from a few things:

• Any medications you may be taking, including prescription, over-the-counter, and even dietary supplements, should be disclosed to your doctor.
• Before your procedure, you could be told to fast for up to six hours. You’ll have access to water.
• If you think you might be pregnant or are pregnant, tell your doctor.
• Additionally, you must disclose to your physician any existing medical issues.

How a brain PET scan is performed

• In the procedure room, on an examination table, you will lie down. An intravenous (IV) catheter will be inserted into a vein in your hand or arm by a nurse or technologist.
• Through this IV, a unique dye containing radioactive tracers will be put into your veins.
• You will have to wait before the scan starts because your body requires time to absorb the

tracers as blood pass through the brain. Normally, this takes an hour.

• After an hour, you'll be positioned on the examination table within the PET/CT scanner so that imaging may start.
• For the duration of imaging, you must stay motionless. You’ll be informed by the technician when you need to stop moving.
• The CT examination is conducted before the PET scan.
• The scans capture the brain activity as it occurs. Both still photos and video can be taken of these. In regions where blood flow has risen, the tracers are concentrated.
• After the test, it’s a good idea to drink a lot of water to assist your body flush the tracers out. Typically, twenty-four hours is all it takes for tracers to leave your body.