Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be exposed to radiation?
Yes, but the exposure is similar to other diagnostic tests like CT and Xray.
Will I experience any side effects from a PET Scan?
No. PET scanning is very safe and you will not have any side effects from the injection.
Is my PET scan covered by my insurance?
Most PET scans for cancer evaluation will be covered. Additional coverage may be available for heart viability and brain disorders. This will be reviewed with your physician’s office prior to your exam.
What is the recommended number of FDG injections a patient can receive in a given time frame for PET imaging?
Although there are no published guidelines, some facilities have administered as many as 5 10mCi FDG doses on research volunteers on 5 consecutive days. In others, PET/CTs are repeated in a few days if the patient had something to eat or moved to create a poor quality image. The shortest clinical interval is typically 21 days-- for evaluating tumor response to one cycle of chemotherapy.

Some patients will get 5-6 PET/CTs per year. But in general, the need for information should exceed the tiny radiation risk of scanning.