Cancer Patient Experience in a Nuclear Medicine Department: Comparison Between Bone Scintigraphy and F-FDG PET/CT.

Our objective was to assess the anxiety level in cancer patients undergoing nuclear medicine exams and to identify how professionals can improve patient experience. In total, 94 patients undergoing Tc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (Tc-HDP) bone scintigraphy (BS) or F-FDG PET/CT completed 2 scan-experience questionnaires and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) before the scan and after image acquisition. Before the exam, the mean anxiety levels were higher for the Tc-HDP BS group than for the F-FDG PET/CT group.