FAQS - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT YOUR PET SCAN

Your Physician orders a PET (Positron Emission Tomography ) scan for you. PET images can provide important information about many conditions affecting the heart, brain, and other organs, which will help your doctor plan appropriate treatment for you.

PET images are different than those from more conventional imaging equipment, such as X-ray, CT, Ultrasound, or MRI. These images show what the tissues look like. PET images contain information about tissue function.

CareImaging (CARE) is committed to providing you and your family with the very best care and information through PET scanning – information you will not have to wait for…information that will be the critical link to your treatment and outcomes.

Can I eat or drink before my scan?

This will depend on the type of study, but typically, you will be asked not to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to your appointment time. Patients are encouraged to drink as much water as they can.

How much time should I allow?

You can expect to be in the PET centre for about 2.5 hours. The actual scan takes far less time.

How does the procedure work?

To begin the procedure, a small amount of radioactive glucose (or similar tracer) is injected into your bloodstream.

There is no danger to you from this injection. Glucose (also known as sugar) is a common substance every cell in your body needs in order to function. Radioactive glucose must pass multiple quality control measures before it is used for any patient injection. The radiation exposure associated with PET is similar to that associated with a conventional CT scan.

After the injection, you will wait approximately an hour, while the injection material is distributed throughout your body.

Then, you will be asked to lie on a table that passes slowly through the scanner. The scanner resembles a CT scanner.

How will I feel afterwards?

You should feel fine. There are no side effects from the injected tracer. If you have a heart scan, you may feel flushed afterward.

About the scan.

• Safe.
• Can be performed in about 2.5 hours as an outpatient procedure.

How do I get a PET scan?

• Any physician involved in your care can order whole body PET scans.
• The studies are read shortly after the PET scan is completed and patients can expect written reports to be available 2 days after the study.

How do I pay for my PET scan?

The cost of a PET scan at Care Imaging is $2358 and is payable by cheque or credit card.

Bottom line – it is your health and your increased survivability…the question is not whether you can afford it…but rather can you afford NOT to have a scan that may improve your long-term health. We will work with you in any way we can.

Are there tax credits or insurance reimbursement for PET?

CARE will be working with private health insurers to encourage them to add PET Scans to their list of covered services. The following information may prove helpful. It is not intended to be tax advice addressed to you and your particular circumstances. You should consult a tax professional or your employer for advice tailored to your circumstances.

Individuals

The $2358 cost of a PET scan, prescribed by a doctor for an individual who also pays for the scan, is an eligible medical expense for the purposes of the medical expense tax credit. Seriously ill patients may also qualify for the disability tax credit or for a tax credit in respect of attendant care expenses. For further information on these and other applicable tax credits, contact the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (formerly Revenue Canada) at 1.800.959.8281 or visit the website at http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/.

Employees

If you are a participating employee in a private group health plan (PGHP) at work, you may be eligible for reimbursement under the plan. Private health services plan expenses are generally tax-deductible to the employer; benefits received by an employee under such a plan are generally not taxable.

Business Owners

A business owner may be a member of a PGHP and eligible for reimbursement for a PET scan under such a plan. Alternatively, the business owner could investigate whether the owner’s business could establish such a plan. The business could deduct premiums paid to such a plan, and benefits provided to members of the plan, including the business owner, would generally not be taxable. A business owner who wishes to investigate how to establish such a plan should contact his or her insurer.

Do I need to bring anything with me?

When you come to CARE, you will need to bring any information your physician gives you that is pertinent to your medical condition. This includes:

• Recent physician notes, CT and MRI films and reports (your physician may arrange to have these sent to CARE, or have you carry them.
• You may bring your favourite music on CD or tape.

You can print out and complete several patient forms that you will find on this site. This will save you some time on the day of your visit to our clinic.

Can I talk to someone about the procedure before my appointment?

Yes, of course. Call the CARE at 905-712-9500 and one of our CARE staff members will talk with you and answer any questions. Or you can email us at info@careimaging.com.

Are there alternatives to PET?

Yes and no. There are examinations that you can have performed. CT and MRI, for example, both examine the anatomical (physical) structure. Therefore, they can be useful in determining the size and location of a tumour; however, neither of them can determine the tumour's viability, whereas PET can determine whether a tumour is still active.

What should I do if my physician doesn't know about PET?

If your physician doesn't know about PET, you can direct him/her to the Cancer, Cardiac Disease and Neurology pages on this site for additional information.

What if my doctor will not refer me?

Suggest that your physician speak with a nuclear medicine physician experienced in PET or have them contact CARE for additional information to determine if PET will be beneficial in your case.

How often should I have a PET scan?

If you are under a physician's care, you should follow your physician's recommendations for the frequency of having a PET scan. Typically, it is suggested that you have a follow-up scan at least every five years. Regardless of how advanced science becomes, however, it should be noted that a PET scan cannot replace the benefits of a clinical exam and evaluation performed by your physician.

Why is PET not well known? Why have I never heard of PET before?

While PET has been around for years, it has only been in the last several years that PET has moved from the research realm to the diagnostic/clinical sphere. In the U.S., PET is the gold standard for the diagnosis and staging of cancer. Until CARE brought PET scanning to Ontario, it was not clinically available to patients here.

How many PET scans are performed per year?

Approximately 1,000,000 PET scans were performed in the U.S. in 2005. The numbers of scans are increasing dramatically, now that PET is more widely available.