PET-CT Scan
What to Bring, How to Prepare, and What to Expect
A PET-CT scan helps your doctor understand where the disease is, how active it is, and supports staging, treatment planning, and response assessment.
What to Bring (Checklist)
Documents & reports
- PET-CT prescription from your doctor
- Biopsy / histopathology report (if done)
- Recent blood reports (if available)
- Discharge summaries / past treatment notes (if any)
Previous scans (very helpful)
- Any old CT / MRI / PET-CT reports
- Films + CD/pen drive/link (if provided)
Medical details you must inform us about
- Diabetes (type, medicines/insulin timing)
- Pregnancy / breastfeeding status (or possibility)
- Any allergies (especially contrast dye, if used)
- Kidney issues or previous high creatinine (if known)
- Any recent fever/infection or recent surgery
If advised (case-to-case)
- Creatinine report (especially if contrast CT is planned)
- Any specific reports your doctor told you to carry
How to Prepare (Before You Come)
A) Fasting (very important)
- Usually 4–6 hours fasting before the scan
- Plain water is usually allowed (unless you’re told otherwise)
B) Food & drink guidelines
- Avoid sugar/jaggery/honey, sweet drinks, juices, and desserts before the scan
- Avoid alcohol the day before (best practice)
C) Exercise restriction
- Avoid gym, running, heavy work, cycling, long walks for 24 hours before the scan (Exercise can affect tracer uptake and image accuracy.)
D) Medicines (do not change without instruction)
- Continue your regular medicines unless your doctor/scan team advises changes
- Diabetic patients: scheduling and medicine timing may be adjusted to keep sugar controlled
(Please tell us at the time of booking so we guide you properly.)
E) If you are diabetic (must read)
- PET-CT images can be affected if sugar is high.
- We may:
- schedule you at a specific time (often morning)
- check sugar before tracer injection
- advise a specific fasting plan
(Do not skip diabetes medicines on your own—follow the scan team instructions.)
F) Pregnancy / breastfeeding
- If you are pregnant, suspect pregnancy, or breastfeeding, inform us before booking/scan.
- You will be guided about safety steps based on your situation.
What to Wear / What to Avoid Bringing
- Wear comfortable clothing (easy to change if required)
- Avoid heavy jewellery, belts, metal accessories
- Carry minimal valuables
- Bring a shawl/jacket (scan areas can feel cool)
What to Expect (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Registration & basic checks
- Registration and consent process
- Vitals may be checked
- In many cases, blood sugar is checked (especially if diabetic)
Step 2: IV line + tracer injection
- A small IV line is placed
- Tracer is injected (commonly FDG)
- The injection is usually quick and feels like a normal injection
Step 3: Resting / uptake time (very important)
- You will rest quietly for a period after injection
- You’ll be asked to:
- sit/lie calmly
- avoid talking too much / walking around
- stay relaxed
(This improves scan accuracy.)
Step 4: The scanning process
- You will lie on the scan table
- The scan is painless, but you must stay still
- In some cases, a CT with contrast may be done (only if required/approved)
Step 5: After the scan
- You may be advised to drink water and pass urine normally
- Your team will guide you on routine activity and report collection timeline
How Much Time Will It Take? (Safe Range)
- Total time at the facility: typically, 2 to 4 hours
(Includes injection + resting time + scan + basic formalities)
After the Scan: Simple Do’s & Don’ts
Do
- Drink water as advised (helps flush the tracer)
- Follow the instructions given at discharge
Don’t (for the next few hours)
- Avoid very close prolonged contact with infants and pregnant women for a few hours, if advised by the scan team
- Don’t panic if you feel slightly tired, rest is okay
Common Reasons a PET-CT May Be Rescheduled (For Accuracy/Safety)
Please inform us if any of these apply:
- High blood sugar on the day of scan
- Active fever/infection
- Very recent surgery or certain injections/medications (doctor will guide)
- Inability to stay still due to pain/anxiety (we can support with guidance)
Disclaimer
Preparation instructions can vary slightly depending on the clinical need (staging vs follow-up), diabetes control, and whether contrast CT is planned. Please follow the final instructions shared during booking and on scan day.
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