As earlier mentioned the PET scans are safe as well as non- invasive. So is the case of Brain PET scan. The main problem with this test is that it is too lengthy and it leads to boredom. Anesthesia is not used, so the patient is not restricted to carry on with their day to day activities. During the process of this test the patient remains awake. The duration of this test is about 30 minutes to 2 hours In Brain PET scan a machine named cyclotron is used to emit the radioisotopes that are used in radioactive tracers.
The patient is allowed to rest in a table. It is advisable or rather a condition for the patient to lay straight on the scanning table and hold their head in the same place and not move, while the test is carried on. The PET scanner is doughnut shaped equipment and it is attached to the scanning table. A radioactive tracer is administered inside the body of the patient. It is administered either by injecting or by inhaling. It is basically injected to see the movement. Then the tracer is allowed to get absorbed by the body. During this process the patient is taken to a dark room. The radioactive tracer that is used is FDG.
When the tracer is absorbed properly the patient is allowed to lie on the table that is moved slowly through the ring. The reports are out within three days of the test.the PET scanning techniques are the latest form of imaging techniques. It is safe as well as non- invasive. It has got many advancements as well as advantages over the other techniques of imaging. The acronym of PET is positron emission tomography.
Though it is safe as well as non-invasive many precautions are to be taken by the patients. The patient is not allowed to eat and drink 4 hours before the time of the appointment. And in the case of patients having high blood sugar level the duration is extended to 6 hours before the test. A lot of water should be taken by the diabetic persons. The patient must clean as well as dry their hair while undergoing Brain PET scan.