PREPARATION
- Fasting for at least 6 hours, except for water. If the exam is scheduled at the end of the morning, breakfast will be allowed, as long as the 6-hour fast before the exam is respected. If the exam is not performed with iodinated contrast (tomographic contrast), fasting can be suspended.
- The patient should withhold the use of somatostatin (SANDOSTATIN) for at least 1 day before the test. If you are using depot somatostatin (SANDOSTATIN LAR, somatuline, lanreodite, etc.), the suspension period is from 4 to 6 weeks.
- All medication should be suspended only with the authorization of the referring physician.
- Drink plenty of water (at least 3 glasses) before the exam, while going to the bathroom as usual.
- It is recommended to wear light clothes and preferably without buttons, zippers and without any other metal parts (earrings, necklaces, watch, etc.).
- Bring any previous exams such as; anatomopathological result, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound, as well as the exam request and a change of clothes. If the previous exam is recorded on CD, don’t forget to bring it.
HOW IS THE EXAM PERFORMED?
After filling out the registration form at the reception desk, the patient will undergo a brief clinical interview to check their data and preparation. Then, the patient will be sent to the preparation room and a vein in the upper limb will be punctured and maintained with saline.
One dose of the radioactive tracer will be administered through the venous access and the patient should remain at rest for approximately 1 hour.
Then, the patient will be sent to the exam room. During the entire time of the test, the patient must remain motionless, lying on the device’s gurney. On average, the acquisition time is from 30 to 45 minutes.
The exam will begin with computed tomography, a phase of rapid duration, and iodinated contrast may or may not be used.
Eventually, additional delayed imaging may be required to complement the examination.
The total time of the exam varies from patient to patient and depends on several factors, such as: patient height, clinical conditions, injected dose.
Therefore, we ask for patience, as we will be carrying out the most appropriate acquisition protocol for each situation.
At the end of the exam, the patient will be discharged without any restrictions and may resume their prescribed medications.
IMPORTANT NOTES
The use of metformin should be suspended on the day of the exam and up to 48 hours later, if radiological contrast is used.
- This test cannot be performed on pregnant women or those suspected of pregnancy.
- Patients who are breastfeeding should not breastfeed for 24 hours after the procedure.
OE 051 – Version: 05/2024
Made by: DIMEN Technical Team
