Abstract
1155
Objectives: Scanning in the nuclear medicine department often involves a form of diet restriction to optimize study results. This may involve fasting, avoiding certain foods, or even increasing intake of specific food items. It is important to education patients about these diets prior to their scan. In this project we discuss the various diets utilized in the nuclear medicine department.
Methods: Different scans and procedures require different diets. We discuss the various diets utilized in the nuclear medicine department in this presentation. For example, a PET/CT scan, patients are required to follow a limited carbohydrate diet for 24 hours prior to scanning. The diet is then switched to water-only 6 hours before the scan. For a radioactive thyroid scan, patients must avoid all seafood and iodine products, and limit the intake of other various food items 1 week before scanning. A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet has been found to improve cardiac sarcoidosis scan results. A number of other scans require patients to be NPO for a certain time period prior to a scan. We discuss the importance of patient education and compliance.
Results: There are various dietary requirements for patients undergoing scans in the nuclear medicine department.
Conclusions: Nuclear medicine scans require various diets; patient education and compliance is important.