|
|
How long does a PET exam take? After the patient arrives and gets registered, they change and receive an IV injection of the FDG. The uptake phase lasts 45-60 minutes where the patient can relax on a recliner, watch television, and stay with family members (for brain PET the patient is kept in a dim and quiet environment). The patient is then transferred to the PET scanner (which is similar in appearance to a large CT scanner). Whole body PET imaging takes 25-30 minutes, depending on patient size. If a diagnostic CT is also ordered, then this takes an additional 10 minutes immediately afterward. For brain PET, imaging time is 10-15 minutes. From the time the patient arrives until the time they leave generally takes on the order of two hours. |
