If you are looking for some PET Scan Side Effects mild and short-term side effects of PET scans include pain or redness at the injection site where the tracer was injected, an unusual metallic or bad taste in the mouth, nausea, headaches, and dizziness. A person may occasionally have an allergic reaction to a radioactive tracer, receiving a rash, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath.
Side Effects of a PET Scan?
PET has certain advantages over CT Scan and MRI scans. PET scans are advanced, which help for early detection of the conditions. But there are also some side effects related to the PET scan. Some of the side effects are discussed below.
Pain and Redness
A person undergoing the PET scan feels redness at the site of injection, as a radioactive tracer is injected at the site.
Allergic Responses Injections
When individuals receive the injection with a radioactive tracer, the possibility of experiencing allergic responses is mild and rare. Patients will be required to grant consent and occasionally undergo some tests before the injection.
Radiation Exposure
Patients will receive some level of radiation exposure for the PET scan, and exposure to radiation is always dangerous. However, the level of radiation used in PET scans is considered to pose little danger. Acute or chronic exposure, on the other hand, is hazardous and can lead to the development of cancers.
Headache
There is an association of headaches and the PET scan procedure where a person after undergoing a PET scan may have mild to severe headaches. The headaches will eventually pass after some time.
Change in Taste
One of the side effects of the PET scan is a change in taste within the mouth. The person may feel zero taste or weird taste for some time after they have injected radioactive material. This will eventually go away once the contrast is excreted through the kidneys and urine.
Nausea and vomiting
This is also a common occurrence in patients undergoing PET, nausea is seen more often than vomiting and almost all patients will have some experience with this. This is due to the radioactive material injected for the PET scans.
Uncomfortable feeling
The person undergoing the scan may feel uneasy and uncomfortable after the radioactive injection, or while in the scan machine. This is a normal experience, and they will feel uncomfortable with several confusing thoughts and imaginations that may arise.
What are the Diseases or Conditions Detectable by PET Scan?
PET scan can detect any of the following diseases or conditions:
- Cancers
- Brain disorders
- Heart disease
- Vasculitis
Where can you get a PET scan in Delhi?
Patients could visit Carebox Provider for PET scan-related tests of any kind in New Delhi. The centre is offering huge discounts for all the tests and PET scans has years of experience and been providing PET scans for decades. The quality is accredited by NABH and proven against other quality parameters.
Conclusion
PET scans are a sophisticated and extremely sensitive diagnostic imaging technology for the evaluation of various diseases, especially cancers, brain disorders, and heart disorders. PET Scan Side Effects The continuum of safety for this type of procedure is heeded as nearly safe, as there are some mild side effects associated with the scan, including redness at the injection site, temporary altered taste, nausea, headache, and dizziness, as well as rare allergic reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the risks of a PET scan?
The PET scan may cause possible side effects, such as mild nausea, headache, and dizziness, most of which are mild and self-resolving, and an allergic reaction to the radioactive tracer is possible but low risk.
Q. Why do you have to stay away from pets after a PET scan?
After having a PET scan, you should avoid contact with pets due to the small amount of radioactive material (tracer) that was injected during the PET scan. The tracer gives off low-level radiation.
Q. How long do PET scan side effects last?
PET scan side effects (for example, mild headache, nausea, dizziness) are typically short lived; lasting from a few hours to a day and resolving on their own. Symptoms of fatigue may last longer (a few hours or up to a day).
Q. What is the biggest disadvantage in using a PET scan?
High cost
Q. What happens to your body after a PET scan?
After the PET scan, the radioactive tracer will be discharged through your urine and stool over 2 to 10 hours. You can resume your normal activities during the daytime, although it is a good idea to drink extra fluids afterward to help rid your body of the radioactive material.
