Preparing for Your Procedure
Please let us know prior to your procedure if any of the following apply to you.
- You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or think you may be pregnant.
- You are diabetic.
- You take any medications on a regular basis, including glucophage, metformin, glucovance, metaglip, or advandamet.
- You have allergies to iodine or other medications.
- You have asthma.
- You have any implanted devices such as pacemakers, aneurysm clips, pumps, or you have shrapnel.
General Instructions for All Diagnostic Procedures
- Please bring any previous diagnostic images as well as pathology reports to your scheduled appointment.
- If you are having a mammogram or breast MRI, avoid wearing deodorant, antiperspirant, powder, lotions, or creams under your arms or on your breasts. Metallic particles in these products could be visible on your images and cause confusion.
- Wear warm, comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.
- Avoid clothes with heavy buckles or metal components.
- You will be provided a locker to store your personal items; however, we recommend that you leave all unnecessary valuables at home. Independent Imaging is not responsible for lost or stolen belongings.
- Please check with your physician's office for any additional test preparation instructions.
- If you have any questions regarding your procedure, please contact our office, and we will be glad to help you. Dial (561) 795-5558.
There is no preparation necessary for a DEXA bone density procedure.
Please check with your physician's office for any additional test preparation instructions.
- lf patient is 65 or older, and/or diabetic, a BUN and creatinine is needed within 4 weeks of testing.
- Abdominal and pelvic scans require the patient to take an oral contrast. This can be picked up at our office at least one day prior to exam. Instructions will be given when to drink the contrast.
- All CT scans that require (IV) intravenous contrast (head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis) require the patient to have NO food or drink 4 hours prior to exam. The patient may take medications with a small amount of water.
CTA to evaluate cardiac arteries:
- Avoid caffeine or other stimulants for 24 hours prior to exam.
- No food or water for 4 hours prior to exam.
- Patients will need a prescription for Toprol XL 50 MG from their physician. One dose is taken the night before testing and one dose is taken the morning of testing.
- Avoid exercise such as jogging or weightlifting for 24 to 48 hours prior to your PET/CT scan.
- Avoid caffeine and tobacco for 24 hours prior to your exam.
- Continue to take any medication prescribed by your physician.
- Your last meal before the scan should be high in protein and low in carbohydrates. For example:
- Breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausage. No breakfast should be eaten if you have an appointment before noon.
- Dinner: steak, baked chicken, fish, cheese, asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms. No pasta, potatoes, rice, or bread.
- For 6 hours before your test, do not eat or drink (except water). Do not even chew gum.
- If you have been advised to take your medications with food, eat nothing more than a few soda crackers 4-8 hours prior to your exam.
Regular X-rays require no special preparation.
If you are having an IVP X-ray procedure:
- Pick-up magnesium citrate prep at Independent Imaging before your procedure.
- No food or drink after midnight.
No powder, deodorant, or lotion prior to the mammogram. All patients MUST bring their prior mammography films if they have not had their previous mammograms at Independent Imaging. Insurance requires the patient wait at least 366 days in between mammograms to receive insurance coverage benefits for a screening mammogram.
- Please bring the written prescription your physician gave you for this procedure.
- You should take all of your usual medications, but inquire about taking sedation or pain medication prior to your procedure if you have a fear or anxiety of small spaces or cannot lie still for 30-60 minutes at a time.
- If your MRI procedure requires sedation or pain medications, please bring a driver and notify our scheduling department.
- Most MRI procedures do not have eating or drinking restrictions; however, our staff will inform you of any dietary restrictions that may be required at the time your procedure is scheduled.
- No metal objects are allowed in the scan room. This includes, but is not limited to, zippers and snaps on clothing, jewelry, watches, credit or bankcards, hairpins, clips or barrettes, wigs, hearing aids, beepers, keys or key chains, and loose pocket change.
- It is recommended that all body piercing jewelry be removed prior to the procedure. Some body piercing jewelry contains metal that can be a safety concern or can distort the images.
- You should remove all eye make-up before your procedure. Some make-up contains metal that may distort the images.
Diabetic patients, please contact our facility prior to your appointment for special instructions.
Cardiac Stress Test
- No caffeine for 24 hours
- If you take any of the following medications, please stop them 24 hours before your procedure: acebutol (Sectral®), atenolol (Tenormin®), betaxolol (Kerlone®), bisoprolol (Zebeta®), carvedilol (Coreg®), esmolol (Brevibloc®), labetelol (Trandate®, Normodyne®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Tropol XL®), nadolol (Corgard®), penbutolol (Levatol®), pindolol (Visken®), propranolol (Inderal®, Inderal LA®), sotalol (Betapace®, Betapace-AF®), timolol (Blocadren®)
- No food or drink 6 hours prior to test
- Bring a light snack
- If able to use the treadmill, wear walking shoes (ex. sneakers)
- Bring a light jacket and dress comfortably
Thyroid Uptake/Scan
- No thyroid medication 4 weeks prior to the exam (ex. Synthroid®, Cytomel®, Tapazole®, methimazole, or T3 / T4 hormones [triiodothyronine, thyroxine])
- No kelp 4 weeks prior to exam
- No Lugol's solution 4 weeks prior to exam
- No contrast test containing iodine 4 weeks prior to exam
- No fish oils 10 days prior to exam
- No food or drink 6 hours prior to scan
HIDA Scan
- No food or drink 6 hours prior to scan
- No pain medication 24 hours prior to exam (ex. morphine, Demerol)
Renal Scan
- Drink one large glass of water 30 minutes before procedure
Gastric Emptying Scans
- No food or drink 4-6 hours prior to scan
- Refrain from taking stomach medication 24 hours prior to exam
- No prep, but drink plenty of fluids
DaTSCAN™
- No prep, but drink plenty of fluids.
- Pick up coordinating mediation at Independent Imaging the day before your procedure, to be taken the night before.
- On the day of your procedure, arrive early for an injection and return 3.5 hours later for the scan.
MUGA Scan (Blood Pool Gated Cardiac)
Parathyroid Scan
Liver/Spleen Scan & Liver SPECT Scan
3-Phase Bone Scan
Whole-Body Bone Scan
- No prep, but drink plenty of fluids
Abdomen, aorta, gallbladder, pancreas, and renal scans:
- DO NOT eat or drink after midnight prior to exam
Pelvic and bladder scans:
- Drink 32 oz. of fluid 60 minutes prior to exam and DO NOT empty bladder.
OB scans:
- May require empty bladder if fetus is < 12 weeks, otherwise, drink 32 oz. of fluid 60 minutes prior to scan and do not empty or relieve bladder.