Comparison of IRAT Survey Results with Recommendations of NCI, European Group, and ACRIN
| Parameter | NCI | European group | ACRIN | IRAT survey |
| Administered dose | 370–740 MBq (10–20 mCi) | 5 mBq/kg for 2D, 2.5 MBq for 3D (370 MBq [10 mCi] for 2D, 185 MBq [5 mCi] for 3D for 70-kg patient) | Dose is specific to each trial | 259–740 MBq (7–20 mCi) |
| Uptake time | 50–70 min | 55–65 min | 50–70 min | 45–90 min |
| Duration of fasting | Minimum of 4 h | 4 h, prefer 6 | Minimum of 4 h | 4 or 6 h (evenly split) |
| Recommendation for low-carbohydrate diet | Recommend for 24 h before | Not mentioned | Recommend for 24 h before | Half the sites recommend |
| Blood glucose cutoff | <120 mg/dL for nondiabetic patients; 150–200 mg/dL for diabetic patients | Reschedule if more than 126 mg/dL | Reschedule if more than 150–200 mg/dL | Reschedule if more than 200 mg/dL |
| Duration of emission scan per bed position | Not mentioned | Typically 5 min per bed position | Use manufacturer recommendations | 2–7 min |
| CT technique | Not mentioned | 30 mAs or less | Technique is specific to each trial | Variable and center-specific |
| Reconstruction algorithms | No specific recommendations | Specific for GE, Siemens, and Phillips | Use manufacturer recommendations | 2D OSEM, 2 iterations. 20–30 subsets |
| How to handle diabetic patients | Scan in morning after overnight fast and before first use of medication | Specific recommendations for type I and type II * | Scheduled in morning with instructions provided in consultation with primary physician | Wide variation, as described in text |
↵* Type I: Study will be scheduled preferably at end of morning; patient will have normal breakfast at 7:00 AM and use regular dose of insulin, followed by fasting for at least 4 h. Type II: Study will be scheduled preferably at end of morning; patient needs to have fasted for at least 4 h; intake of water is recommended; oral antidiabetic drugs should be continued.