What to Know Before Your PET/CT

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for an Amyloid (Amyvid) PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully.Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Our team will confirm your information, review consent forms, and answer any questions before your scan.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing and remove all jewelry before your scan. If your clothing includes metal (like zippers or snaps), you’ll be asked to change into scrub pants provided by Shields.
• Injection: You’ll receive an injection of a radioactive tracer (typically Amyvid, florbetapir F 18) used to detect amyloid plaque in the brain. After your injection, you’ll rest quietly or may leave briefly before your scan begins.
• Diet and Hydration: There are no fasting or dietary restrictions for this exam. You may eat and drink as normal before your appointment.

During the Scan

• Before your scan, you’ll be asked to use the restroom and remove any remaining metal items.You’ll lie on your back for approximately 30 minutes while the technologist monitors you. You’ll be able to communicate at all times, and music may be available to help you relax.

After the Scan

• You may resume normal activities after your exam. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to help flush the tracer from your body. As a safety precaution, please stay 6 feet away from children and pregnant women for 6 hours after your appointment.
• Results will be reviewed by a radiologist and shared with your referring provider within a few days

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for an Cardiac Sarcoidosis PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully.Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Patients are generally asked to arrive 20–60 minutes before the scan, depending on location and whether labs are needed. A Shields representative will review your information and ensure all preparation steps are complete.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing and remove all jewelry prior to your exam. If your clothing includes metal (like zippers or snaps), you’ll be asked to change into scrub pants provided by Shields.
• Injection: During the test, you will be given a special form of radio-labeled glucose that your heart cells will then take up quickly which help to see if there is any inflammation in your heart.
• Diet and Hydration:
  • 72 hours before your scan: Follow a high fat, high protein, low carb diet. NO carbohydrates or sugars are allowed.
  • 24 hours before your scan: Do not engage in ANY physical activity
  • 15 hours before your scan: You may drink plain, unflavored water only, nothing to eat. Take all oral medication with ONLY plain water and continue to refrain from physical activity.
• Take oral medications only if they do not require food.
• Drink 16 oz. of water prior to your appointment.

During the Scan

• Before your scan, you’ll be asked to use the restroom and remove any remaining metal items.You’ll lie on your back for approximately 30 minutes while the technologist monitors you. You’ll be able to communicate at all times, and music may be available to help you relax.

After the Scan

• You may resume normal activities after your exam. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to help flush the tracer from your body. As a safety precaution, please stay 6 feet away from children and pregnant women for 6 hours after your appointment.
• Results will be reviewed by a radiologist and shared with your referring provider within a few days

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for a Cerianna PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully.

Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. A Shields representative will review your information and ensure all preparation steps are complete.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing and remove all jewelry prior to your exam. If your clothing includes metal (like zippers or snaps), you’ll be asked to change into scrub pants provided by Shields.
• Injection: You’ll receive an injection of Cerianna (fluoroestradiol F 18), which measures estrogen receptor activity. After your injection, you may leave for a coffee or snack but must return within 90–110 minutes for your scan.
• Diet and Hydration:
  • Fast for 4 hours before your appointment.
  • You may drink plain, unflavored water only.
• Medication:
  • Discontinue ER modulators (tamoxifen, toremifene) for 8 weeks prior to your scan.
  • Discontinue ER down-regulators (fulvestrant) for 28 weeks prior.
  • Discontinue Elacestrant for 11 days prior.
    
• Take oral medications only if they do not require food.
• Drink 16 oz. of water prior to your appointment.

During the Scan

• Before your scan, you’ll use the restroom and remove any remaining metal items.
• You’ll lie on your back for approximately 30 minutes while our technologists monitor you and ensure your comfort.

After the Scan

• You can resume normal activities after your exam. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer from your system. Please keep a 6-foot distance from children and pregnant women for 6 hours following your scan.
• A radiologist will review your results and share them with your provider within a few days.

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for a Dotatate PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully

Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Patients are generally asked to arrive 20–60 minutes before the scan, depending on location and whether labs are needed.
• Arrival: Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Upon arrival, our staff will review your information and answer any questions.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing and remove all jewelry prior to your appointment. If your pants have buttons or zippers, you’ll change into scrub pants provided by Shields.
• Injection: You’ll receive an injection of Dotatate, a radioactive tracer used to evaluate neuroendocrine tumors. After your injection, you may leave for a coffee or snack but must return within 90–110 minutes for your scan.
• Diet and Hydration: There are no fasting or dietary restrictions for this exam. You may eat and drink normally.

During the Scan

• Before your scan, you’ll be asked to use the restroom and remove any remaining metal items. The scan itself takes about 30 minutes while you lie on your back. Our technologists will help keep you comfortable and provide music if desired.

After the Scan

• You may resume normal activities after your scan.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help clear the tracer from your system.
• As a precaution, please stay 6 feet away from children and pregnant women for 6 hours following your appointment.
• A radiologist will review your images and share results with your physician within a few days.

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for an FDG PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully.

Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Patients are generally asked to arrive 45–90 minutes before the scan to allow time for injection and prep.
• Arrival: Please arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. When you check in, our staff will review your information and answer any questions before beginning the exam process.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing such as sweatpants and a sweatshirt. If your pants contain metal (like zippers or buttons), you’ll change into scrub pants provided by Shields. Remove all jewelry and metallic accessories before your scan.
• Injection: You’ll receive an injection of FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose), a small amount of radioactive tracer that helps highlight areas of metabolic activity in your body. After the injection, you’ll rest quietly while the tracer circulates—typically about 60 minutes. During this time, it’s important to remain still and relaxed.
• Diet and Hydration:
  • Fast for at least 4 hours before your appointment. Avoid mints, gum, or cough drops during this time.
  • You may drink plain, unflavored water only. Avoid flavored or sugar-free drinks.
    
• Diabetic Patients:
  • Follow a low-carb, low-sugar diet for 24 hours prior to your scan.
    
  • Do not take insulin during the 4-hour fasting period.
    
  • If using an insulin pump, keep it running but do not manually dose insulin during fasting.
    
  • Blood Sugar: Must be under 180 mg/dL at the time of your appointment to proceed.
    
  • Oral medications are allowed unless they must be taken with food.
    

During the Scan

• After your rest period, you’ll use the restroom and remove any remaining metal items.
• You’ll lie on your back on the scan table while our technologists monitor you closely. The scan takes about 30 minutes.
• During this time, it’s important to remain still for clear imaging. You may be offered music for comfort, and the technologist will stay in contact with you throughout.

After the Scan

• You can resume normal activities after your scan. Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer from your system.
• As a precaution, please stay at least 6 feet away from children and pregnant women for 6 hours after your exam.
• A radiologist will review your images and send results to your referring provider within a few days.

General Notes

These are general guidelines to help you know what to expect for a PSMA PET/CT. Exact instructions will differ based on your Shields location, your health, or your physician’s request. You’ll receive personalized instructions from Shields before your exam (by text, email, or phone), and those must be followed carefully.

Important note: PET/CT scan preparation can vary based on your health condition, medications, and type of scan. Always follow the instructions that are provided during your scheduling call exactly, or your exam may be rescheduled.

General Preparation

• Arrival: Please arrive 2 hours and 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Upon check-in, our team will review your information and confirm your preparation instructions.
• Clothing: Wear warm, metal-free clothing and remove all jewelry before your exam. If your pants contain metal (like zippers or snaps), you’ll be provided scrub pants to change into.
• Injection: You’ll receive an injection of PSMA tracer, which highlights prostate-specific membrane antigen for accurate prostate cancer imaging. After your injection, you may leave for a coffee or snack but must return within 90–110 minutes for your scan.
• Diet and Hydration: There are no fasting or diet restrictions for this exam. You may eat and drink normally prior to your appointment.

During the Scan

• Before your scan, you’ll use the restroom and remove any metal items.
• The scan itself lasts about 30 minutes, and you’ll be asked to remain still while lying on your back.
• Music may be provided for your comfort, and our technologists will monitor you closely throughout.

After the Scan

• You may resume normal activities following your exam.
• Drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer from your system.
• Please maintain a 6-foot distance from children and pregnant women for 6 hours after your appointment.
• A radiologist will review your images and share results with your referring provider within a few days.