PET Prep

Tuesday I'm having a routine PET/CT scan of my abdomen.

Here's what I was given as preparation instructions:


48 hours prior to PET/CT scan
• No strenuous exercise (aerobic, weight-lifting, treadmill, etc.).

24 hours prior to PET/CT scan
No sugar/low starch; avoid the following items:
• Bread, pastry, cereal and pasta
• Fruits (no tomatoes)
• Desserts, muffins, crackers, candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream, yogurt, jams, jellies and honey
• Soft drinks, milk, soy milk, tonic water, juices, beer and other alcoholic beverages
• Starchy vegetables (rice, potatoes, corn, lima beans, soy beans, parsnips and peas)
• DO NOT take common cold medications.

24 hours prior to your arrival
• If you take medicine containing nicotine, please let us know immediately.
You may eat:
• Meats (beef, chicken, lamb, pork, fish) and tofu; do not use sweet sauces and do not bread the meat
• Eggs prepared without milk
• Cheese, butter, mayonnaise and unsweetened peanut butter
• Non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, spinach, green beans and cauliflower)
• Nuts, excluding honey roasted

12 hours prior to PET/CT scan
• DO NOT eat anything 12 hours prior to the PET/CT scan.
• Drinking water before the exam is encouraged — but WATER only. Anything other than water can adversely affect the exam quality.
• All necessary medications may be taken with water (if you are diabetic please check with our PET/CT coordinator before taking diabetes medication).
• DO NOT chew gum or breath mints.
• No smoking or use of tobacco or nicotine products preferably for 12 hours or at least four hours prior to your arrival.

Got all that?