During
a PET/CT scan many images are taken.
These digital images are stored immediately
onto a computer hard drive.
The operator will check the images for
technical quality and to ensure that every necessary
view has been taken during the procedure.
After all the images have been acquired and checked for technical quality,
they will be arranged into logical groups and printed.
This allows the images to be reported or sent to clinic.
The reporting is done by a radiologist or
nuclear medicine physician; this will be
someone who specialises in the interpretation of
PET/CT images.
The report is usually done soon after the scan, often on the same day, and
the films may also be sent to the referring clinician.
The report will be sent to, and available
at, your follow-up appointment with the
consultant that referred you for a PET/CT scan.
As
you can appreciate, reporting the scan is a process
which requires time and expertise.
Please do not ask the radiographer for a result
at the end of your scan, they are simply unable
to give a report at this time.
Remember, just because the radiographer can not give an answer does not mean
there is anything wrong with you or the scan.