Exam Preparation

MRI Exam Preparation and Instructions

No special preparation required. However, wear comfortable clothing and avoid wearing jewelry and eye make-up, as anything with metal may interfere with the images. If sedation is planned, do not eat or drink 4 hours prior to exam. If you are having a study of your head, you should not wear any hairspray or makeup the day of the exam.

Please Inform the Technologist:

• If you have a cardiac pacemaker
• If you have metal objects in your body
• If you are pregnant
• If you are claustrophobic

Day of Exam

You will be required to remove any metal objects (jewelry, glasses, clothing with zippers) and possibly put on a patient gown. The MRI Technologist will explain the exam procedure to you. You must lie still during the scan and will be able to communicate with the technologist through the microphones inside the machine. Depending on the study you are having, the exam can take anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour.

IVP Exam Preparation and Instructions

Eat a light dinner the evening before your exam. Nothing to eat or drink for six hours prior to exam. For patients over 65 years of age, specific blood tests (BUN and Creatinine) are required.

Ultrasound Exam Preparation and Instructions

Abdomen: Nothing to eat or drink 6 hours prior to exam.
Pelvic or Obstetrical: Drink 4 eight ounce glasses of water one hour prior to exam. Do not urinate. You must have a full bladder for the exam.
Gallbladder: Nothing to eat or drink six hours prior to exam.
Bladder: Drink 2 to 3 eight ounce glasses of water one hour prior to exam.

Day of Exam

The technologist will explain the exam procedure to you and you will be required to change into a patient gown. The test can take anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour.

Gallium Scan Preparation and Instructions

* No special preparation is required

You will be scheduled at MD Imaging for an injection of a small amount of radioactive material. There are no side effects from this injection.

After the injection you will then be scheduled to return to MD Imaging to have the gallium scan at 24 hours, 48 hours and possibly 72 hours.

Each scan will last about 20 to 30 minutes.

CT Scan Exam Preparation and Instructions

All Scans: Nothing to eat or drink 3 hours prior to exam. If you are having a scan with IV contrast, please inform the technologist if you are allergic to iodine.

CT Abdomen and Pelvis exams: If you are having a scan with oral contrast, you may pick up the contrast the day prior to your appointment or arrive 2 hours before your exam to drink the oral contrast. For patients over 65 years of age, specific blood tests (BUN and Creatinine) are required.

Day of Exam

You will be required to remove any jewelry, hair clips, etc, if you are having a head scan. The technologist will explain the exam procedure to you and give you specific instructions during the scan. The exam can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.

PET Scan Exam Preparation and Instructions

Whole Body PET

Your physician has ordered a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan for you. This test will provide localization of any metabolically active disease. The results will aid your doctor in making treatment decisions for you. It is essential that you follow the instructions below in order to insure quality and accuracy of your scan.

Instructions for the 12 hours prior to your exam time:

• Stay on a low carbohydrate diet.
• DO NOT engage in any strenuous exercise.
• DO NOT chew gum and avoid mints.
• Refrain from consuming caffeine, including any decaf products for 24 hours prior to your exam.

Foods Allowed:

All meats
Tofu
Unsweetened peanut butter
Oil, Butter, Margarine
Eggs
Diet Soda
Hard Cheeses
Non-starchy vegetables (such as: broccoli, spinach, green beans)

Foods NOT Allowed

Cereals and breads
Pasta
Jams and jellies
Sugar
Candy
Rice
Peas, Corn, Potatoes
Fruit and Fruit Juice
Gravies
Milk
Honey
Dry Beans
Alcohol

Day of the Exam:

• DO NOT eat anything six (6) hours prior to your appointment time. Please drink several glasses of water (2-6) and take medications. If you need to eat, please contact your doctor for questions regarding medications.
• Wear warm and comfortable clothes.
• You will receive an injection.
• If having a CT, you may be asked to drink oral contrast.
• You will be asked to sit quietly in the waiting room for 60-90 minutes after the injection and drink 2 glasses of water, if you can.
• Scans generally take about 1 hour. In some cases, more than one scan is required; you will be notified of the number of scans at the time of injection.
• Your total time commitment will be about 3 hours and reports should be in your doctor's office within 48 hours.
• There are no residual side effects from a PET scan. On rare occasions, CT contrast may cause a reaction. You will be able to drive yourself home.

Please direct any further questions to MD Imaging Nuclear Medicine staff at (845) 471-2848.

Cardiac PET

Purpose

Your physician has ordered a PET Scan for you. The test will visualize healthy muscle (metabolically active). The results will aid your doctor in making treatment decisions for you.

Exercise

Do not engage in any strenuous exercise 24 hours prior to your test.

Diet

On the day of exam, do not eat anything 6 hours before your appointment time. If your schedule allows, you may eat a light breakfast or lunch. Drink only water on the day of your exam. You may take medications you physician has prescribed.

Diabetic

A diabetic patient should eat only small protein meals (meat, fish or chicken) to control his blood sugar. The patient should adhere to his normal insulin schedule or modify it only under his doctor’s supervision.

Day of the Exam

An angiocath (IV) will be placed in your arm. Your blood glucose level will be checked and re-checked. Your blood sugar levels may be adjusted using small doses of insulin. At the appropriate time, a small dose of a radioactive sugar (FDG) will be injected. The PET Scan will be acquired 45 minutes after the (FDG) injection. Your total time commitment may be as long as 4 hours.

There are no residual side effects from the procedure. You will be able to drive yourself home with no difficulty.

Brain Only PET

Purpose

Your physician has ordered a PET Scan of your brain. The scan will help your doctor to make more informed decisions about your treatment.

Diet

Please, do no have any caffeine or decaffeinated products 24 hours before your appointment time- coffee, tea, chocolate, Coke, etc.

Exercise

Do no do any strenuous exercise or chew gum the day before your exam.

Day of the Exam

Take nothing by mouth but water and any oral medication you may need 6 hours before your appointment time. If you are a diabetic and there is a question about taking medication, please, call your doctor. If you must eat, please, eat a small protein meal. You will be injected with a glucose (sugar) that has been labeled with radioactive tracer. The injection will be given via a vein in your arm, hand or pic-line. We do not access indwelling porta-caths.

Your head will be positioned is a special holder and taped to reduce and movement. We will make every effort to make you as comfortable as possible- pillows under your knees, arm rests, blankets, etc.

Total time on the scanner may be as long as 90 minutes.

There will be no residual side effects from the procedure. You will be able to drive yourself home with no difficulty. You physician will have the results, generally, within 48 hours. Please direct any further questions you may have to info@mdimagingny.com.

Mammography Exam Preparation and Instructions

Do not wear deodorant, powder or lotions on the day of the exam. Please bring previous mammograms (if available) for comparison.

The exam can take up to 30 minutes.

HIDA Scan Preparation and Instructions

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the scan and no breakfast the morning of the scan.

After your arrival at MD Imaging, you will be injected with a small amount of radioactive material that will combine with the bile in the liver to show if the gallbladder is functioning properly.

There are no side effects to the injection. The scan usually lasts for about one hour. If the gallbladder does not visualize, the scan can last up to 4 hours.

If your doctor orders CCK with the HIDA scan for gallbladder ejection fraction, the scan will take an extra half hour. CCK will be injected only when the gallbladder and bowel are seen during the scan.

Possible side effects from CCK are nausea and stomach cramps which will last only for about 3 minutes.

GI Series Exam Preparation and Instructions

Nothing to eat or drink after midnight. It is important that your stomach be as empty as possible for this procedure.

Nuclear Medicine Exam Preparation and Instructions

Thyroid Uptake and Scan: This is usually a two day procedure.

First Day: Patient will be asked to swallow an iodine capsule 4 to 6 hours prior to exam.

Second Day: The Thyroid Scan will be performed. The patient will be injected with a small amount of a radioactive agent. Images will then be taken to examine the thyroid.

Thyroid Scan Prep:

• Nothing by mouth 4 hours prior to exam
• No shell fish 7 days prior to exam
• No cough medicine prior to appointment, unless iodine free
• After checking with your doctor, discontinue taking the following medication:
  • Synthroid - 4 weeks prior to exam
  • Cytonel - 2 weeks prior to exam
  • PTU - 1 week prior to exam
  • Tapazole - 5 days prior to exam
  • Lavoxyl - 8 days prior to exam
  • Multivitamins - 2 weeks prior to exam
• No iodine contrast studies (CT, IVP, Angiogram or Myelogram) 6 weeks prior to exam

Please call the office with any questions you might have concerning your Thyroid Scan procedure.

Bone Densitometry Exam Preparation and Instructions

Do not take any calcium suppliments the day of the exam. If you have had any nuclear medicine studies or x-rays using contrast, you must wait at least 7 days before having a Bone Density exam.

Myelogram Exam Preparation and Instructions

When you arrive at MD Imaging, you will be required to fill out the appropriate forms. You will then be taken to the dressing room where you will be asked to change into a gown. The radiologist and the technologist will explain the procedure to you. At this time, feel free to ask any questions and discuss any concerns you may have. You will then be asked to sign a consent form.

After the myelogram portion of the procedure is completed, you will then be taken to have a CT scan. The entire procedure takes approximately 60-90 minutes.

It is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids over the next 48 hours to help flush the contrast material from your system.

Barium Enema Exam Preparation and Instructions

Please do the following on the day before your exam:

8:00 a.m. - Eat a light meal.
12:00 p.m. - Lunch - all clear liquids, drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
1:00 p.m. - Drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
2:00 p.m. - Drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
3:00 p.m. - Drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
4:00 p.m. - Take Fleet Phospho-soda solution, followed immediately with at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
5:00 p.m. - Drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids
6:00 p.m. - Drink all clear liquids
7:00 p.m. - Drink at least 8 oz. of clear liquids.
9:00 p.m. - Take 4 Fleet Bisacodyl tablets.

Please do the following on the day of your exam:

One hour before leaving for your exam, please use a Fleet Enema

LIGHT MEAL:

Clear soups, (fat free) small portions of skinless chicken, turkey or fish, white bread (no butter), any clear liquids described below. DO NOT eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, fats, butter, milk, cheese, beef, pork, lamb, whole grain cereal.

CLEAR LIQUIDS:

Strained fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, lemonade), water, clear broth, boullion, coffee, tea. You may have all of the following which are not colored red or purple: Gatorade, carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, plain Jello without fruits or toppings, ice, popsicles.

PHOSPHO-SODA SOLUTION:

Pour Fleet Phospho-soda into one-half glass of cold, clear liquid and drink. Fleet Phospho-soda usually works within one hour of ingestion.

BISACODYL TABLETS DIRECTIONS:

Take all four (4) unless directed by your physician. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water. Do not chew or dissolve tablets. Tablets taken at bedtime are usually effective the following morning. Do not take tablets 1 hour after taking antacids and/or milk products. This product may cause abdominal discomfort, faintness, rectal bleeding, and mild cramping.

FLEET ENEMA:

Follow instructions on the box carefully. Make sure to remove the green protective shield from the enema tip and do not insert past the black line unless instructed to do so by your physician or nurse.

Bone Scan Preparation and Instructions

No special preparation is required

Upon your arrival at MD Imaging, you will be injected with a small amount of radioactive material. There are no side effects from this injection.

You will then be instructed to return to MD Imaging in three hours for the bone scan. You may eat or drink any liquids during that three hour waiting period.

Upon your return to MD Imaging, the bone scan will be done and will last for about 45 minutes to one hour.

Biopsy Preparation under Mammography, Ultrasound, CT or MRI Guidance

PRIOR FILM STUDIES

Patient will present 24-48 hours prior to their exam with their films. Upon arrival, the films with be taken to the radiologist who will be performing the exam for their evaluation.

CLOTHING

A comfortable 2 piece garment should be worn. For MRI, sweat pants are recommended. No metal on body or clothing or jewelry should be worn.

LABS

All patients should have PT, PTT, and CBC with platelets prior to all biopsies. Patients taking blood thinners such as Coumadin or Lovenox should also have an INR added to their labs. This blood work should be obtained while the patient is off their medications and prior to the procedure. The patient will contact their physician after the procedure and prior to resuming their blood thinner.

USE OF MEDS

Some medications, pain relievers, and herbal products may cause an increased risk of bleeding and should be discontinued at least 5 days prior to the day of their procedure. These include Coumadin, Plavix, Aspirin, Motrin, Excedrin, Alka-Seltzer, Naproxen, Advil, Ibuprofen, Heparin, St. John's Wart and Vitamin E.

For pain, you may take Tylenol.

Lovenox can be taken up to 24 hours prior to the procedure.

Virtual Colonoscopy

THE DAY BEFORE YOUR VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY:

Begin a clear liquid diet. Clear liquids include, but are not limited to: Coffee and tea, without milk or creamer, soft drinks such as cola, 7-up, ginger ale, apple juice, white grape juice, iced tea, non-red Jell-O, fat free broth, frozen Popsicles (non-red), and water.

You are advised to drink at least 16 oz of a clear liquid at least once every hour throughout the day to avoid dehydration.

At 11 am or _________ on the day before your procedure, add 1.5 oz of Fleets Phospho-soda to at least 8 oz of a clear liquid or chilled soda such as ginger ale or Sprite. Follow this with 16 oz of a clear liquid within the next hour.

At 1pm or __________ on the day before your procedure, take 4 Dulcolax tablets with 8 oz of clear liquid.

At 3pm or ___________ take the second bottle of Fleets Phospho-Soda as above.

Continue clear liquid diet.

ON THE DAY OF YOUR VIRTUAL COLONOSCOPY:

Have nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to your appointment.

Bring your current medications with you to your appointment.

Please notify our office if you are an insulin dependent diabetic or require antibiotics prior to dental work or surgery.

You must have someone drive you to and from your appointment.

FIVE (5) DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT, DO NOT TAKE THE FOLLOWING:

• Aspirin or aspirin products such as Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Excederin, Alka-Seltzer (You may take Tylenol)
• Blood thinners such as Coumadin
• Prescription pain medications such as Vioxx, Celebrex, unless otherwise directed.
• Iron or iron supplements.
• Herbal supplements
• Vitamin E