PET/CT imaging is a powerful diagnostic tool that allows doctors to see not just what the body looks like internally but how it’s functioning at the cellular level. If you’ve been scheduled for a PET/CT, understanding the process can go a long way toward easing anxiety.
Before
Your care team provides specific instructions ahead of time, often including guidance on eating, drinking and medications — certain foods and stimulants can interfere with the radiotracer. Plan to arrive well-rested and follow your fasting instructions closely; accurate preparation produces accurate results.
During
The radiotracer is administered and given time to circulate — usually 30–60 minutes of quiet rest. The scan itself takes 20–40 minutes while the PET and CT images are captured and fused together. The scanner is quiet and open on both ends; you’ll be able to communicate with the technologist throughout.
After
You can resume normal activities almost immediately; drinking water helps clear the tracer from your system. A specialized radiologist — at RMI, Dr. Ehab Youssef directs the PET/CT program — reads your study and reports to your physician, with your report available in the patient portal.