Q. How long does a PET/CT scan take?
A. The entire process typically takes about 60 to 90 minutes.
Q. How long does it take to get the results?
A. Our onsite, board-certified radiologists typically read scans and send a report to your doctor in less than 72 hours.
Q. Can I choose to have my PET/CT scan done at Trinity Health Grand Haven even if my doctor is located in Muskegon, Grand Rapids, or another city?
A. Absolutely. You are the consumer. You can ask for the test to be performed at the location that works best for you. The test equipment, process, and report are the same.
Q. How will my doctor get the results?
A. Most results are now transmitted electronically. We have strong connections to the major providers in the area and it is very easy to send reports and images as requested.
Q. When can I schedule my PET/CT scan?
A. We share a mobile scanner with other Trinity Health locations. Because of this, the unit is in Grand Haven one day a week.
Q. Why is the equipment not available every day?
A. Michigan is a “certificate of need” state that requires a certain number of patients to be scanned per year in order to provide that service at a fixed location. Grand Haven does not currently have the patient volume to support the certificate of need, which is why we share the unit with other locations.
Q. Does the scan require an injection of any kind?
A. Yes. The PET/CT scan uses a radioactive drug called a tracer, which is typically injected into a vein in the hand or arm. The tracer will pinpoint the location of the disease on the images for the radiologist to see.
Q. How long does the tracer stay in my body?
A. The tracer decays as it is processed through the body. It is typically gone within six hours.
Q. Is the tracer dangerous to me or to people around me?
A. A PET/CT exposes you to about 25 mSv of radiation. This is equal to about eight years of average background radiation exposure. The benefits of getting a scan most often outweigh the risks.
Q. I’m concerned about getting cancer. Can I have a PET/CT scan to screen myself?
A. No. The PET/CT cannot be used as a screening tool. Blood cancer, for example, does not show up on a scan. Scans can also register false positives. The PET/CT scan is an excellent tool for diagnosing, staging, and evaluating cancer once it has been detected through other screening tools.
Q. How do I get my scan scheduled?
A. Ask your doctor to make a referral for a Trinity Health Michigan PET/CT scan.