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Leicester PET/CT Centre

Leicester PET CT Centre
Front entrance to the Leicester PET CT Centre at Glenfield Hospital

The NHS England contract to supply PET/CT services is provided by Alliance Medical Ltd (AML). Alliance Medical Ltd have installed a static PET/CT Unit at the Glenfield Hospital site. Scientific support is provided by the UHL Nuclear Medicine Service and appointment bookings are undertaken by Alliance Medical Ltd. 

A PET/CT scan is a medical imaging technique used to produce a detailed, three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. A PET/CT scan involves injecting a small amount of a radioactive tracer into a vein, usually in your arm. The most commonly used tracer in PET/CT is FDG (fluoro-deoxy-glucose),which is similar to naturally occurring glucose (a type of sugar) so your body treats it in a similar way

The scanner detects the radioactive tracer as it collects in different parts of your body. By analysing the areas where the radiotracer does and does not build up, it's possible to shows how the body breaks down and uses glucose. Abnormal cells use glucose differently and this will show up on the scan. 

The radioactive tracers used for your scan have a short shelf life and has to be made on the day of your scan. Therefore occasionally appointments may be cancelled at short notice if there are tracer production issuesA typical PET/CT scan takes approximately 2 hours.


What preparation do I need for my PET/CT scan? 

Do NOT have anything to eat for six hours before your appointment. During this time you can ONLY drink unflavoured water.  For your scan, you do not need to have a full bladder. You should avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours before your appointment. If you smoke or vape, withhold from smoking or vaping 2hours before your appointment. 

It's a good idea to wear loose, comfortable clothes. Avoid wearing jewelry and clothes that have metal parts, such as zips, because these will need to be removed. 


How is a PET/CT scan carried out? 

When you arrive at the department, we will ask you to complete safety questionnaire 

You will when be taken to a preparation room to sit or lie on a couch and a small cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm. Through the cannula we will then administer a small dose of a radioactive tracer and ask you to remain lying down for about one hour before your scan. 

After one hour, we will ask you to empty your bladder before taking you through to the scanning room and onto the scanning bed.  

The scan can take between 25 to 45 minutes depending on the type of scan your doctor has requested  

You will be asked to have either your arms above your head or down by your side. 

It is important that you remain still during your scan. 


What happens after my PET/CT scan? 

Once the scan is completed, you will be able to leave the department immediately 

You will be able to eat and drink as you normally doYou may go anywhere you wish but you should avoid close contact with children and pregnant women for 8 hrs after your scan. This is to avoid exposing children to unnecessary radiation.  


How will I get the results of my PET/CT scan? 

Your PET/CT scan will be reported within 3-5 working days. The results of your scan will then be made available to the referring doctor 


Are there any risks from the radiation?  

We will expose you to small level of ionising radiation when we carry out this examination. 

We are all exposed to ionising radiation from naturally occurring sources such as cosmic rays, certain types of soil and rocks and even food we eat. Ionising radiation can cause cell damage that in turn, after many years, may turn cancerous. 

The radiation associated with your exam will therefore carry a small risk which is less than 0.1%. This risk will be far outweighed by the benefits of having this exposure. We will also tailor the amount of radiation we use for you.  

 

PET/CT Centre Address and Contact Details 

Phone number: 0116 258 3220 

Email Address: leicester.pet@nhs.net 

Address 

PET CT Centre (opposite South Entrance of Glenfield Hospital) 

Glenfield Hospital 
Groby Road 
Leicester 
LE3 9QP 

Opening times 
Monday: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm 
‍Tuesday: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm 
‍Wednesday: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm 
‍Thursday: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm 
‍Friday: 7:30 am - 7:30 pm