Ga-68 PSMA PET/CT

What is a PET/CT scan?
PET/CT, or Positron Emission Tomography combined with Computed Tomography, is a radionuclide diagnostic method that allows doctors to assess the functional characteristics of the body, metabolic activity in internal organs, pathological changes, as well as the anatomical structure of organs and tissues using computed tomography.

How should you prepare for the examination?
Do not eat for 4 hours before the scheduled examination time.
Drink 1 liter of water 1–2 hours before arriving at the medical center.

What should you bring on the day of the examination?
• Passport or ID card
• PSA test result performed no more than 30 days before the examination
• Discs and reports of previous examinations, including PET/CT, SPECT/CT, CT, MRI, ultrasound and others
• Other medical documents, such as discharge summaries, specialist reports and outpatient medical records

How is the examination performed?
Please arrive at the department at the time indicated by the administrator.
The total time spent at the medical center is approximately 2 hours.
Wear comfortable clothing without metal elements.
After completing the necessary documents, you will be taken to the injection room, where the procedure will begin.

In the preparation room
You will be asked to take a comfortable position, after which an intravenous catheter will be placed.
You will receive an injection of the Ga-68 PSMA radiopharmaceutical.
After the injection, while resting in the waiting room, it is not recommended to talk, listen to music, read or use a mobile phone.
One hour after the radiopharmaceutical injection, you will be escorted to the PET/CT scanning room. You must empty your bladder before the scan.
The scan takes 15–20 minutes. During the entire scan, you must lie still and avoid movement. Movement during scanning may cause artifacts, which can make interpretation of the results difficult or impossible.

What should you do after the examination?
For 12 hours after the examination, you should:
• Avoid contact with young children under 10 years of age and pregnant women. If contact cannot be completely avoided, keep a distance of at least 2 meters. The injected radioactive substance fully decays within 12 hours, after which you will no longer be a source of radiation.
• Increase your fluid intake to 2–2.5 liters. The radioactive substance is eliminated through the kidneys with urine.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• If you plan to leave the country or cross the state border within 24 hours after the examination, please inform the staff in advance so that you can receive the appropriate document — a certificate confirming that radionuclide diagnostics was performed. This certificate must be presented at the border.

How can you receive the examination result / report?
PET/CT results will be ready within two working days. The original report, the examination disc and the QR code are issued at the reception desk of the Radiation Therapy Center from Monday to Friday, between 09:00 and 17:00.
Following the preparation instructions above helps ensure a high-quality examination and reduces the risk of false-positive and false-negative results related to improper preparation.