Clinical Queries
Please click on a question in the list to jump to the answer.
- What are the clinical indications for a PET/CT scan?
- My patient is very claustrophobic, can they be sedated?
- Is PET/CT only sensitive to cancer?
- My patient is very ill and needs a stretcher, can they still have a scan?
- Are there any side effects of injecting the radioactive FDG?
- Could having recent surgery where tissues are still recovering affect the resultant image?
- Can ward patients be scanned?
- Which ward patients can be referred?
- My patient has nursing needs. How will these be accommodated?
- Who arranges transport for ward patients?
- What should my ward patient wear when attending the unit?
- My patient is diabetic, will they need to starve for the test?
Q. What are the clinical indications for a PET/CT scan?
A. You can view both national and regional clinical indications here.
Q. My patient is very claustrophobic, can they be sedated?
A. The mobile environment is not suitable for sedating patients. A triage radiographer will contact your patient and discuss their claustrophobia. A static site may be more suitable facility for their scan.
Q. Is PET/CT only sensitive to cancer?
A. Not only cancer. Any highly metabolically active lesions will be highlighted on PET/CT, unless they are very small.
Q. My patient is very ill and needs a stretcher, can they still have a scan?
A. The mobile environment is not suitable for very unwell patients who are not mobile. A static site is more suitable for this type of patient. Please contact the patient referral centre for advice.
Q. Are there any side effects of injecting the radioactive FDG?
A. There are no known side effects from injecting FDG.
Q. Could having recent surgery where tissues are still recovering affect the resultant image?
A. Yes this can cause low uptake of FDG. It is important we are made aware of recent surgery include biopsy, lines that are in situ or other abnormal or normal variants to the patient’s anatomy.
Q. Can ward patients be scanned?
A.
Yes ward patients can be scanned on the mobile unit, however the mobile units have limited facilities to accommodate patients with mobility problems. Please ensure that information is included on the referral form to indicate that the patient is a ward patient. InHealth will evaluate the patients on a per patient basis, using a checklist to ensure that patients attending are suitable for the mobile environment.
Due to the opening hours and clinical support at the site in Plymouth, there are restrictions on the type of ward patients that can be scanned. Restrictions also apply to ward patients in the East Midlands area due to radiation protection issues. Please contact us before referring.
Q. Which ward patients can be referred?
A. Ward patients can only be referred if they can walk on and off the unit. The patient will be assessed at the time of booking using a triage process to evaluate patient needs and mobility and guidance given.
Q. My patient has nursing needs. How will these be accommodated?
A. If a patient has nursing needs, such as a drip, they must be accompanied by a nurse escort. The nurse escort should not be pregnant or breast feeding. Any equipment required for nursing must be brought with them. Food and drink required by the nurse escort and the patient must be provided by the hospital and brought with the patient. Nurses attending will be guided by the InHealth staff on a safe working practice around patients who have been injected with FDG.
Q. Who arranges transport for ward patients?
A. Transport must be arranged by the ward for both journeys.
Q. What should my ward patient wear when attending the unit?
A. Patients should not be in night wear; they should be dressed in clothes suitable for the outside environment. If a patient is too ill to attend in outside clothes, consideration should be made as to whether a mobile unit is the most appropriate environment for their scan.
Q. My patient is diabetic, will they need to starve for the test?
A. Yes they will. A triage radiographer will contact your patient and negotiate the most suitable appointment time for them.
