Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Why is the combination PET/CT better than PET and CT separately?
Both you and the medics can save precious time, as only one examination is needed and does not take long. The results are precise. Your most suitable treatment plan can be thus administered.

Will the examination costs be covered by health insurance companies?
The costs for a PET/CT-examination are currently only covered by health insurance companies for non-parvicellular bronchial carcinoma and for the lung nodule. For other types of tumour, the reimbursement of costs can be authorized in terms of an isolated case or decision.
Moreover, our practice has made arrangements with the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), which also enable a PET/CT-examination for breast cancer and cancer of the lymph gland at the expense of the health insurance company.

How long does the examination take?
With HD-PET/CT, the whole body scan takes between only 10 and 12 minutes.

Is the examination in the system uncomfortable?
The gantry has a width of 75 cm, the tunnel itself very short at 80 cm, which minimizes possible claustrophobia and allows good communication with doctors and personnel. There are no noises occurring.

How should I prepare for the examination?
Please plan about 3 hours in total for the examination. You must have an empty stomach, but mineral water as well as unsweetened tea are allowed. Please do not forget to take your medicine as agreed with your doctor, as well as all preliminary examinations. If you like, you can bring a CD of music of your choice.

How strongly does PET affect the body?
Positronradionuclides, as used for a PET, have very short half-lives. These are between a few minutes and two hours. The substance degrades in the body according to the half-life and does not need to be released from the body. The tracers applied are located only in the targeted organ. Only a very small amount of radioactive tracers must thus be applied.

What should one observe during an examination?
The patient should lie as still as possible, in order to have the greatest chance of a successful examination. He/she should breathe shallowly, in order to keep the potential error between CT and PET to a minimum.

Is a scintigraphy dangerous?
No. The amount of radionuclides administered is exactly measured, so that the examination results can be as precise as possible whilst at the same time keeping radiation exposure to a minimum. As radionuclides are only used in small amounts, the radiation exposure of the scintigraphic examination is very low. The dosage of radiation is mostly smaller than that of an X-ray examination.

Regarding a scintigraphy, what is to be considered beforehand?
Depending on the organ that is to be examined, there are guidelines to be followed. For example, if the thyroid were to be examined, the patient would generally not be allowed to take any thyroid medication in the preceding three weeks. For heart examinations, the patient should normally have an empty stomach, meaning that he/she should not eat or drink for several hours beforehand. Exact directions are given in agreement with the doctor.

How long does a measurement take?
One or more measurements may be needed. It can take between ten and sixty minutes, depending on the kind of examination.

What sort of complications can occur as a result of a scintigraphy? The following complications may in rare cases occur:
Injury of blood vessels or nerves during injection
Infections through injection
Heart disorders, eg. Cardiac rhythm disorder due to exposure.

Is the radioactive substance dangerous for my body?
No. The amount of radioactive substance administered is exactly measured so that the scan results can be as precise as possible, whilst at the same time keeping radiation exposure to a minimum.