A Pet scan or positron emission tomography scan is an imaging test that can assist your doctor in seeing how the organs and tissues inside your body are actually functioning. Pet Scan costs can vary, depending on the region and what is to be included in the scanning process.

The Pet Scan Procedure

When you go for a pet scan procedure, the radiologist will inject a small dose of radioactive chemical, called a radiotracer, into the vein of your arm. The tracer then travels through your body and is absorbed by whatever organs and/or tissues that are being examined.

Then, you will need to lie down on a flat examination table that is moved into the center of a PET scanner, which is a doughnut-like shaped machine. This machine detects and records the energy given off by the tracer substance and, with the aid of a computer; this energy is transposed into 3D pictures. Your doctor can then look at cross-sectional images of the body organ from any angle in order to detect any functional problems.

Once the radioactive chemical has been injected into your vein, it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour for the radiotracer to travel throughout your body and be absorbed into the organs or tissues to be examined. The scan itself can take an additional 30 to 60 minutes. The heart and brain studies take less time for imaging.

You will need to remain still for the entire length of the exam, because any movement can reduce the quality of the images. Depending on which organ is being examined, there may be additional tests and additional dyes or chemicals used that may lengthen the total appointment time up to 3 to 4 hours. For example, patients being examined for heart disease may undergo a stress test in which PET scans are obtained while at rest followed by the administration of other drugs to examine blood flow to the heart under exercise conditions. The pet scan costs range from $450-$4000 depending on the type of scan.

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