The procedure for an FDG-PET scan typically includes the following steps:
1. Preparation: The patient may be asked to fast for several hours before the scan to ensure low blood sugar levels, which improves the accuracy of the test. 2. Injection: FDG is injected into the patient’s bloodstream. The patient then waits for about an hour to allow the compound to distribute throughout the body. 3. Scanning: The patient lies on a table that slides into the PET scanner. The scan usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour. 4. Analysis: A radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist analyzes the images to identify areas of abnormal metabolic activity.
