Patient Preparation for PET Scans

The instructions listed below are simply general guidelines for the many scans performed at the PET Center at Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM). Some patients will require specific instructions based on their diagnosis and/or medications, and these instructions will vary from what is listed below.

FDG (Glucose) PET Scan of the Brain - with or without EEG

• Nothing to eat OR drink 4 hours prior to appointment time (unless otherwise directed)
• May take medications as usual with a sip of water only (unless otherwise directed)
• Diabetic patients may receive specific instructions for their medications and eating before their scan
• For EEG, hair must be clean and dry, and free from mousse or gel
• One IV line will be started if sedation is required OR a small butterfly needle will be inserted, then removed, in order to inject the glucose isotope

FDG (Glucose) PET Scan of the Heart or Whole Body

• Same as above except disregard EEG information since there is no EEG involved

Cardiac (Heart) Studies

• Nothing to eat or drink 4 hours prior to appointment time (unless otherwise directed)
• May take medications as usual with a sip of water only (unless otherwise directed)
• Absolutely no caffeinated, decaffeinated, or chocolate products 24 hours prior to appointment time
• Diabetic patients may receive specific instructions regarding medications and eating before the scan
• Usually, two IV lines will be needed for this scan

FMZ (Flumazenil) PET Scan of the Brain - with or without EEG

• Children requiring sedation for this scan are to have nothing to eat OR drink 4 hours prior to appointment time (unless otherwise directed); if sedation is definitely not required, then patients can eat/drink as usual. The patient/parents will receive specific instructions upon scheduling
• Benzodiazepine drugs (i.e. Valium, Ativan, Versed), must be avoided at least 3 weeks before appointment (unless otherwise directed). This should be done with approval from you/your child's physician
• Other medications may be taken as usual with a sip of water only (unless otherwise directed)
• For EEG, hair must be clean and dry, and free from mousse or gel
• One IV line will be needed for this scan

AMT (Serotonin) PET Scan of the Brain - with or without EEG

• For children - nothing to eat or drink 4 hours prior to appointment time (i.e. appointment time 12:00 noon, nothing by mouth after 8:00 am), For adults - nothing to eat or drink 6 hours prior to appointment time
• May take medications as usual with a sip of water only (unless otherwise directed)
• Patients taking medication for depression, anxiety, or obsessive compulsive disorder may need to be weaned off certain medications 4 weeks prior to appointment. This must be directed by a physician
• For EEG, hair must be clean and dry, and free from mousse or gel
• Two IV lines will be needed for this scan (unless otherwise directed)

For further information, please call: 313-993-3849