Are there any risks?

Any exposure to radiation carries a very small risk of potential tissue damage that couldlead tocancer at a later date.

However, in a standard PET scan the amount of radiation you're exposed to issmall about the same as the amount you get from natural sources, such as the sun, over three years.

The radiotracer becomes quicklyless radioactive over time and will usually be passed out of your body naturallywithin a few hours. Drinking plenty of fluid after the scan can help flush it from your body.

As a precaution, you may be advised to avoid prolonged close contact with pregnant women, babies or young children for a few hours after a PET scan, as you will be slightly radioactive during this time.

The CT component of a PET-CT scan also involves exposure to a small amount of additional radiation, but the risk of this causing any problems in the future is still very small.