How long does an axumin pet scan take?

Ah yes, the joyous experience of getting a diagnostic imaging scan. Nothing screams “I’m having so much fun!” more than lying still in a machine while it whirs and buzzes around you like some kind of futuristic torture device. But fear not, dear reader! Today we’re diving deep into the world of Axumin PET scans to answer that pressing question on your mind: just how long is this delightful procedure going to take?

What even is an Axumin PET scan?

Before we can talk about how long it takes, let’s first make sure we know what we’re talking about here. An Axumin PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scan is used primarily for detecting prostate cancer or prostate cancer recurrence in men who have already had treatment. It works by using radioactive tracers to highlight areas where cells are actively growing and multiplying – places where cancer typically shows up. These tracers are injected into your veins before the scan begins – which I suppose makes sense since this whole process feels vaguely vampiric anyway.

Setting expectations

Now that we’ve got our head wrapped around what exactly an Axumin PET scan entails, let’s get down to business: timing! The good news is that these types of scans are usually faster than many other types of medical imaging procedures out there (I’m looking at you MRI!). Even better news – they often don’t require anything too extreme from the patient beforehand; no dreaded fasting or pre-appointment laxatives necessary .

So…how long does it actually take?

The actual procedural time, meaning once you’re strapped onto table ready for scanning, will vary depending on factors such as:

  • The location performing your test
  • Your BMI
  • Whether any preliminary tests need to be run
  • And ultimately how well-behaved your bodily organs decide to be today

But as a general ballpark, you can expect an Axumin PET scan to take about 45 minutes.

The Prodigal Wait Commences

However, that’s not the whole story – we’re going to have to factor in some extra check-in and processing time on top of that 45 mins. Gotta love healthcare scheduling precision! But fear not – better safe than sorry when it comes to finding potential cancer spots.

Some additional stages will include:

Pre-Test Check-In

Expect your medical professional friend(s) who will be performing your scan to spend some minutes checking various vital stats such as:

  • Blood pressure
  • Pulse rate
  • Any specific health concerns they need answers for.

They’ll also surreptitiously ensure you’re not carrying any foreign objects or wearing jewelry which might cause interference with the machine during its parts-per-second photographic shenanigans.
When scheduling out how long this might add onto the process, account for roughly 15-20 miutes of preparation/setup time before your scan even begins proper.

Debatable Necessity Optional Hydration Time

It is often recommended (or required) for patients receiving axumin PET scans drink plenty of water prior to their procedure . This expands and brightens kidney activity around the urinary tract so radioactive tracers get detected better where they need y be within your body .

If drinking liquids ever causes issues though e.g hypersensitivity towards extreme thirstiness , run it past whoever prescribed/testing you whether guzzling endless amounts H2O pre-scan yay/nay controllable option. If all goes well and fluids are downed without issue, allocate ~5-10 moments just getting amply hydrated beforehandm especially if this isn’t something implemented daily already.

Conclusion: A Necessary Evil in Under an Hour

So there we have it folks – while waiting around at doctors appointments may neverttt bethe most joyous of pasttimes, an Axumin PET scan (relatively speaking) doesn’t take up too much of your precious day. Depending on prep time and your own body’s cooperation, you’re looking at roughly an hour all in – or a smidge under if things go smoothly. Definitely not record-setting levels of face-in-machine time compared to other procedures; Take that, MRIs!
If you’re getting one soon – don’t stress too much 0- create mental Nirvana for those few moments & everything will be over before ya can say “thank God it’s done”!

Random Posts