PET/CT Scans

PET/CT Scans at Garnet Health

At Garnet Health Medical Center, we offer patients Positron Emission Tomography and Computerized Tomography (PET/CT), which is a state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging tool that allows physicians to pinpoint the location of a disease within the body before making treatment recommendations. Imaging technology provides physicians the proper tools to detect and care for specific diseases at a faster pace. With the ability to diagnose neurological disorders, make an earlier cancer diagnosis, determine the stage of cancer and plan the right course of precise treatment.

Schedule An Appointment

To schedule your appointment please call the Garnet Health Medical Center centralized scheduling department at 845-333-7900. The PET/CT department is open Monday - Friday 6:30 AM - 5:00 PM, and one Saturday a month from 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

PET/CT System at Garnet Health Medical Center

The highly precise PET/CT scan integrates metabolic and anatomical data to illustrate the biology of disorders at the molecular level while simultaneously being able to specifically locate abnormal growths and/or changes in the body structure. During this procedure, the patient is given a small amount of a radioactive tracer through an IV. As the tracer travels through your blood stream, it collects in organs and tissues, giving off emissions, or signals, that are measured by the PET scanner and developed into 3D images for your health care provider to analyze and use in diagnosis.

There are several benefits to utilizing PET/CT imaging including improved tumor detection and localization, precise staging of disease, including early detection, monitoring cancer recurrence, monitoring response to chemotherapy. We offer a few types of PET/CT scans at Garnet Health Medical Center, including:

• Skull to Thigh/Wholebody PET/CT Scan - During the PET procedure, the patient will be given a small amount of a radioactive isotope known as Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). FDG is comprised of both a radioactive element and a sugar molecule. Cancer cells have a faster metabolism for glucose than normal cells, and therefore a greater attraction for FDG. Once absorbed by these cells, the radioactive component will emit a signal that the PET scanner will change to light to produce a 3-Dimensional image of the body and organs.
• Brain PET/CT - Brain PET/CT scans are used to gather data on how the brain and its tissues are working for indications such as epilepsy or dementia/Alzheimer’s. This type of functional imaging is capable of detecting areas of the brain that are damaged or not properly metabolizing glucose.During the Brain PET procedure, the patient will be given a small amount of a radioactive isotope known as Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). FDG is comprised of both a radioactive element and a sugar molecule. Once the brain has metabolized the FDG injection, the radioactive component will emit a signal that the PET scanner will change to light to produce a 3-Dimensional image of the brain.
• Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT Scan - Gallium-68 (Ga-68) DOTATATE (NETSPOT ™) is a specialized radiotracer designed specifically for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs). NETs are rare neoplasms characterized by over-expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Ga-68 DOTATATE has a high affinity for and binds to SSTRs enabling detection of NETs and carcinoid tumors under the PET scanner. There is no preparation required for Dotatate scans.
• Gallium-68 PSMA PET/CT Scan - Gallium-68 (Ga 68) PSMA-11 is a specialized radiotracer designed specifically to bind to prostate-specific membrane antigens (PSMA). PSMA is a transmembrane protein primarily present in all prostatic tissues. Nearly all adenocarcinomas of the prostate demonstrate an overexpression of PSMA in primary and metastatic lesions. In preparation for your exam we ask that you avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours and come well hydrated.
• Rubidium-82 (Rb-82) Myocardial Perfusion PET/CT Scan - Rubidium-82 is a specialized radiotracer used to evaluate blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle. This non-invasive imaging technique enables detection of narrowed or diseased cardiac tissue. The exam will consist of resting images, a stress test (performed using a medication- no exercise or treadmill), and stress images. The exam will take approximately 1 hour to complete. In preparation for your exam we ask that you do not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the exam, and avoid all caffeinated products for 24 hours.

Preparing for your PET/CT Scan

These instructions are for PET/CT scans taken at Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown, NY. FDG PET/CT Scans require careful preparation, so please see the instructions below. When scheduling your PET/CT scan, inform the imaging staff if:

• You are taking any medication
• You are diabetic
• You are pregnant or nursing

Please plan to spend at least two hours at the PET/CT imaging facility. Exam times, procedures and discharge instructions vary with each patient. For specific procedure questions or concerns, please call Garnet Health Medical Center's PET/CT Department directly at 845-333-7245.

Download the Patient Prep Documentation