How Long Do PET Scan Results Take?

Wondering how soon you can access and review the results of your PET scan online? With PocketHealth, your health records are at your fingertips.

Access to your PET scan images and report lets you monitor your health and share this information with other providers, making it easy to get a second opinion. This guide will cover how quickly to expect your PET results, how to understand the medical terminology, and how to share and view your records.

Knowing how to access your PET results can provide valuable insights into your health and allow you to have more confident, informed conversations with your referring practitioner. With PocketHealth you can quickly access, securely store, understand and share all your medical images and reports.

 

 

Why are my PET scan results taking so long?

There are multiple factors that can influence PET scan turnaround times. Some possibilities include:

• Your scan complexity: The more complex the area being scanned, the longer it will take the radiologist to interpret the results.
• How urgent your health condition is: If you have health needs that are very time sensitive, it is likely your results will be prioritized. If they are more routine, it may take longer.
• If you had previous scans to compare: If this is a repeat PET scan and the radiologist needs to evaluate the progression of a condition, they may need more time to compare past and present results.
• If the radiologist needs additional information: If the PET scan missed something or there were technical errors, they may request your doctor schedule you for additional testing or imaging. This may delay your final report.
• Technical issues with sending your results: If there are problems with the diagnostic machinery or the computers used to send the report to your doctor, there may be delays.

 

PET scan results time: How long do I have to wait?

You’re not alone if you feel anxious waiting for your PET scan results: more than 50% of patients feel anxious or stressed waiting for medical test results, according to a 2023 PocketHealth survey.

Will I get my PET scan results immediately?

Most patients won’t receive their PET scan results immediately. A radiologist must review the results, prepare a report and send it to your doctor. Additionally, your PET scan technician is not permitted to provide any diagnostic information during your scan, as it is outside the scope of their qualifications. However, if you’re in an emergency situation and the scan is performed at a hospital, you will likely receive your results more quickly.

How long does it typically take to get my PET scan results?

Results vary depending on the radiologist’s schedule as well as your own doctor’s. It can sometimes take up to a week or more, depending on various factors, such as if your doctor waits until your follow-up appointment to give you your results.

How long do PET scan results take for cancer detection?

Even for cancer detection, PET scan results can take up to a week or more, depending on the facility. Radiologists will be particularly thorough with such an important diagnosis, which may extend the processing time. However, if your referring doctor deems it necessary, they may expedite your results to facilitate quicker next steps. Every case is different.

 

Can I check my PET scan report online?

That depends on the imaging facility or your doctor’s office. If either has an online patient portal, you may have access to your results. However, some facilities keep online results available for only a limited time. PocketHealth provides secure access to your final reports and images as soon as they are available, allowing you to view and store your PET scan results indefinitely.

 

5 Benefits of having access to your PET scan results

1. You can review them for mistakes: Though rare, mistakes can happen. Having access to your results can help you make sure nothing falls through the cracks. For instance, if the scan date or other details are incorrect or missing, you can contact your provider to request corrections.
2. You can share your results: If you want to keep your healthcare team updated or need a second opinion, you can email, print or fax a secure access page to another practitioner from your account, even if they aren’t on PocketHealth themselves.
3. You can ask more informed questions: It can be challenging to decipher the complex medical terms in your PET scan report. With PocketHealth Report Reader, you can learn what those terms mean, allowing you to have more informative conversations with your practitioner during a follow-up appointment.
4. You’ll get personalized health insights: You can stay on top of suggested next steps. For instance, with PocketHealth MyCare Navigator, you’ll know when a follow-up is needed as it detects these recommendations within your report. It also suggests follow-up questions to bring up with your doctor.
5. You own your records: All your records are secured with bank-level encryption and centralized in one place. PocketHealth secure storage negates the need to request your records, which can take 30–60 days and may require a fee and a signature.

With quick, secure access to your PET scan imaging and report, PocketHealth lets you arrive at your next appointment informed, confident and ready to participate in your own care.

 

 

Getting your PET scan results back

Your doctor will review your final PET scan results with you, and for many patients, this follow-up appointment is when they first receive their report. However, if you had earlier access to your results, this is an opportunity to prepare for your follow-up in advance. Here are some suggestions:

First, review your report and try to understand any findings. Report Reader is a useful tool for this, as it provides definitions of medical terminology in your report. This allows you to have a more informed discussion with your doctor, as you will already have a basic understanding of your results.

MyCare Navigator is another useful tool for preparing for your follow-up appointment. It generates personalized questions based on your report and identifies any recommended follow-up steps, helping you address these with your physician and make your appointment more productive.

 

How to read your PET scan results?

Here is a quick overview of some of the more common terms found within many PET scan reports:

• Coronal, sagittal and axial planes: “Plane” describes the patient’s position in a PET scan image. Coronal is a front view, sagittal is a side view and axial is a horizontal cross-section.
• FDG uptake: This tracks how quickly and how much FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) is taken up by your cells. Normal, mild or no uptake means different things depending on baselines for specific cell areas. It can help diagnose abnormalities.
• Standard Uptake Value: These numbers indicate the standard uptake value (SUV)—a ratio defining the activity of the tracer in a specific area. Low, moderate and intense all indicate different conditions or progressions.
• Deauville Score: This score runs from 1 to 5, indicating the least to most FDG uptake in certain areas. With a DS score, a lower number is better.
• Lesions, calcifications, cysts, etc.: These and other abnormal conditions may be detailed in your report.
• Unremarkable: This indicates normal results.

 

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common diagnosis for a PET scan?

PET scans are most frequently used by oncologists and other doctors to treat, monitor or diagnose potential cancers. However, they are increasingly being utilized for other diagnostic purposes, such as evaluating brain and heart conditions. PET scans are also beginning to play a role in diagnosing arterial conditions and Alzheimer’s disease. There are numerous reasons to have a PET scan; while cancer evaluation is a common one, it is not the only reason.

Does a PET scan tell you the stage of cancer?

Often, PET scans can indicate the location and extent of cancer in a patient’s body, as well as how far it has spread. However, other imaging and tests may be needed alongside a PET scan to confirm the cancer’s diagnosis and staging.

What happens if a PET scan is positive?

While a positive PET scan can indicate cancer, non-cancerous conditions may also appear similar on the scan, potentially leading to a false positive. Therefore, try not to stress if your scan comes back positive. It could be due to inflammation, non-cancerous lesions or other benign abnormalities. Additional tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, will likely be performed to assist in diagnosis.

 

How to be an advocate for your health

PocketHealth allows you to access your imaging records and reports in one place, making it convenient to share critical information with your medical team. Access to your imaging is particularly valuable, as you may need to show these records to specialists, primary care providers, or other healthcare professionals. It also allows you to monitor and track your imaging progression, keeping you involved in your health.