Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans are a crucial tool in modern medicine, particularly for cancer detection. These scans rely on the metabolic activity of cells, often using a radioactive sugar called FDG to highlight areas of increased glucose consumption, a hallmark of cancer cells. To ensure the accuracy of a PET scan, careful preparation is essential, and diet plays a significant role. This article delves into the importance of a protein diet in preparing for a PET scan, explaining why it's recommended and what foods to include and avoid.
Understanding PET Scans and Glucose
PET scans capture images of your tissues and organs to see how they are working. One of the best ways of cancer detection is a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan. Typically, glucose speeds up the growth of cancer cells and that is why doctors inject glucose into the patient’s body when performing the PET scan. The PET scan helps to detect the signs of high glucose consumption by cells. Modern PET scans include a CT scan, or in some cases an MRI. These are known as a PET-CT or PET-MRI.
Why a Low-Carb, High-Protein Diet?
When it comes to PET scan preparations, your physician will advise you to follow a strict diet. The doctor will ask you to follow a diet that is low on low carbohydrates. High protein, low carbohydrate diet ensures the stability of glucose levels in your body. The hypermetabolic environment of the myocardium, brown adipose tissue (BAT), and muscle will have an effect on the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT).
What to Eat Before Your PET Scan
Some of the foods you can eat are those that are rich in protein content. For dinner the night before the exam, eat a low carb, high protein diet, e.g., meats, fish, green vegetables, eggs or cheese. Your last meal before your scan should include foods high in protein and plenty of water.
Specifically, consider incorporating these foods into your pre-scan diet:
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- Steak
- Chicken
- Fish
- Eggs
- Duck
- Cheese
- Turkey
- Asparagus
- Mushrooms
- Broccoli
- Bacon
- Sausage
Foods to Avoid
Foods that are high in carbohydrate content and low in protein content must be avoided. This is because such foods can throw your body’s glucose levels out of balance and lead to inaccuracies in results.
Here's a list of foods to avoid in the lead-up to your PET scan:
- Pasta
- Potatoes
- Rice
- Waffles
- Oatmeal
- Raisins
- Bagels
- Bread
- Sugar
- Caffeine
- Tobacco
Additional Dietary Guidelines
You should not eat for six hours before your test. (Diabetic patients may eat up to four hours prior to appointment time.) Do not eat or drink anything after midnight, EXCEPT WATER. During the 4 hours prior to your appointment: Please do not eat until after your exam. Avoid liquid medications, gum, hard candy and cough drops. Do not drink anything except for water. Continue to drink water up to the time of your exam. Discontinue tube feeding and/or IV glucose until after exam. For patients with sarcoidosis indication: Please don’t eat or drink anything except for water for 12 hours prior to your exam, including liquid medications, gum, hard candy and cough drops.
The Day of Your PET Scan
The Day of your PET scan: During the 4 hours prior to your appointment: Please do not eat until after your exam. Avoid liquid medications, gum, hard candy and cough drops. Do not drink anything except for water. Continue to drink water up to the time of your exam. Discontinue tube feeding and/or IV glucose until after exam.
Medication Considerations
PATIENT MEDICATIONS Hold all diuretic medication (water pills) the day of your exam. Take all other normally scheduled medication, with water, if they can be tolerated on an empty stomach. DIABETIC PATIENTS - The target blood sugar is below 200 for this exam. No diabetic medication (insulin, oral, or injection medications) for 4 hours prior to your exam. Patients on an insulin pump: schedule PET exam during AM/morning hours. Adjustable pump: keep on basal/night setting Nonadjustable pump: keep pump on Do not administer insulin bolus within 4 hours of your exam
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What to Expect During the Scan
When you arrive for your PET scan, your care team will start an IV line, and a radiotracer will be injected into your body. If the radiotracer is FDG and you are diabetic, your care team will check your blood sugar before starting. You will rest quietly in a reclining chair for 75 minutes. After the injection you may be given one cup of an oral barium contrast to drink. You will be asked to empty your bladder right before the PET scan because having a full bladder can affect the quality of the images. Once you’re ready to start the scan, you’ll be asked to lie on your back on a padded table. The table will move into a large, tunnel-shaped scanner where the PET scan is performed. It’s very important to remain still during the test. It takes about 60 to 90 minutes for the PET scan’s radiotracer to start working.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
What should I bring to my appointment? Wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing and avoid jewelry, zippers and snaps. Arrive 15 minutes early to complete registration.
Staying Hydrated
It is important that you stay well hydrated. Please drink as much water as you prefer. Continue to drink water up to the time of your exam. So, be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush it out of your system.
Comfort and Preparation
Wear comfortable clothes, with no buckles or metal. It is also best to leave any jewelry at home. Try to stay warm on the day of your scan. If possible, do not wear clothing with belts, zippers, snaps or metal of any kind to your appointment. It’s also important that you don’t exercise for 24 hours before your PET scan. Do not perform strenuous activity 24 hours prior to this procedure. lifting and repetitive motion. If you are claustrophobic, please consult with your physician and contact our staff for the safest possible preparation method.
Post-Scan Information
How will I feel after the scan? You can leave immediately after your scan. take all prescribed medications. A specialist (radiologists. The findings will be sent to your healthcare provider. A specialist will review your PET scan and share the results with your doctor. How will I receive my PET scan results? diagnostic images) will study the images from your examination and send a report to your physician.