What happens on scan day
Can Someone Stay With Me — During the Scan?
Your attendant cannot come into the PET-CT scan room. This is not a policy choice about who matters — it is a radiation-protection rule that applies to everyone, staff included. Your attendant waits nearby and rejoins you the moment the scan ends.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Family cannot enter the scan room — The radiotracer you receive and the scanner itself both emit radiation. The room is restricted for that reason.
- Your attendant waits nearby — A designated waiting area is available. They are not sent home — just kept to a safer distance.
- You are not alone in the machine — Staff monitor from the adjacent control room and can hear you through an intercom throughout the scan.
- You rejoin them immediately after — Once the scan is complete, there is no restriction. You leave together.
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Your family or attendant cannot enter the PET-CT scan room. The radiotracer you receive makes you mildly radioactive for a few hours, and the scanner adds further radiation. Both are reasons staff restrict who can be inside. Your attendant waits in a designated area and rejoins you as soon as the scan ends.
CION offers PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
What happens when you arrive for a PET-CT scan?
Arrival and check-in
You check in at reception. Staff confirm your name and the scan requested. Bring a photo ID and any earlier scan reports you have been asked to carry.
Pre-scan preparation
A technologist takes a brief history and checks your blood sugar. You change into a gown. A small cannula is placed in your arm — this is how the radiotracer is given.
Radiotracer injection and rest period
The radiotracer is injected through the cannula. You then rest quietly in a separate room while your body absorbs it. Your attendant waits in a different area during this stage.
The scan itself
You lie still on a flat bed that moves slowly through the scanner. Staff watch from the adjacent control room and can hear you through an intercom the whole time.
After the scan
The cannula is removed and you are free to leave. You rejoin your attendant straight away. The mild radioactivity from the tracer clears naturally over the rest of the day.
Why can't my family come in with me?
The radiotracer you receive is a small amount of radioactive material. After injection, your body emits low-level radiation for several hours — this is what the PET scanner detects. The scan room also contains radiation from the CT component of the machine.
Together, these two sources mean the scan room carries more exposure than a normal clinical area. Limiting who enters is how the centre keeps that exposure as low as reasonably possible — a principle that applies to staff as well as visitors.
This is not a judgement about who is important to you. The radiographers themselves rotate and step away for the same reason. Your attendant is not being excluded; they are being protected.
As soon as the scan is done, there is no restriction. You leave together.
PET-CT Partner Centres
PET-CT Scan Centres in Hyderabad
CION offers PET-CT scans through 4 trusted partner PET-CT centres across Hyderabad, so you can choose the one closest to you. Call 18002028726 and we’ll guide you to the earliest available appointment.
PET-CT Centre — Punjagutta
PET-CT Centre — Himayatnagar
PET-CT Centre — Narayanaguda
These are partner diagnostic centres within the CION network. Toll-free booking: 18002028726.
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MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
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Dr. Vinay Mamidala
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Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
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Dr. Mohammed Imran
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Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
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What should your attendant know before the day?
- They cannot enter the scan room or the uptake room. This is a radiation-protection rule and applies to everyone without exception.
- The wait can be longer than expected if the centre is busy. Tell them to bring something to read or do.
- They should bring their own water and a light snack — they may not be able to step out once you have arrived.
- If you are anxious about being alone, mention it when you book. Some centres can arrange brief staff check-ins between stages.
- If your attendant is pregnant, they should wait outside the scan facility entirely — not just in the waiting room.
- Young children should not wait in the scan area. Arrange childcare for the duration of the appointment.
Does the rule change for children, anxious patients, or pregnant attendants?
| Situation | Standard rule | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Adult patient, attendant accompanying | Attendant waits in the general waiting area, away from scan rooms | No action needed — standard process |
| Child patient | A parent may be permitted during the preparation stage at the centre's discretion | Mention at booking so the centre can plan |
| Patient with dementia or significant anxiety | Staff will discuss individual arrangements for the preparation stage | Mention at booking — do not wait until the day |
| Attendant who is pregnant | Must not enter or wait near the scan area | Arrange to wait outside the facility; no exception applies |
PET-CT at CION starts from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — across 4 partner centres in Banjara Hills, Punjagutta, Himayatnagar and Narayanaguda. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 64 more Preparing For and Having Your Scan Safely topics
Scan Day: What Actually Happens
- Can Someone Stay With Me During the Scan?
- Can You Drive Yourself Home After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Have Sedation for a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Done on the Same Day as Other Tests?
- Contrast in a PET-CT Scan: When It Is Used and Why
- Eating and Drinking After Your PET-CT Scan
- How Long Does a PET-CT Scan Take?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Painful?
- Is a PET-CT Scanner Closed Like an MRI? Claustrophobia Explained
- The Tracer Injection: Does It Hurt?
- What Happens If the Scan Cannot Be Completed?
- What If You Cannot Lie Still or Have Tremors?
- What to Expect Immediately After the Scan
- Why Was My Scan Repeated or Extended on the Day?
- Why You Have to Wait an Hour After the Injection
- Your PET-CT Scan Day: What Happens, Step by Step
Diabetes & Blood Sugar for PET-CT
- A Diabetic Patient's PET-CT Day Plan
- Best Appointment Time for a Diabetic PET Scan
- Can Diabetics Take Their Tablets Before a PET Scan?
- Does Diabetes Change Your SUV Reading?
- Fasting Safely With Diabetes Before a Scan
- Insulin and PET-CT: Timing Rules
- Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Found Before a Scan
- PET-CT Scan With Diabetes: The Complete Preparation Guide
- PET-CT With Steroid-Induced High Sugars
- What Blood Sugar Level Is Needed for a PET-CT Scan?
- What Happens If Your Sugar Is High on the Day?
- What to Eat the Day Before if You Have Diabetes
Preparing for Your Scan
- A Printable PET-CT Preparation Card
- Can I Drink Water Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can I Have a PET-CT Scan During My Period?
- Can I Take My Regular Medicines Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Can You Reschedule a PET-CT Scan?
- Cold Weather, Shivering and Brown Fat: Why You Are Asked to Stay Warm
- Fasting Before a PET-CT Scan: How Long and Why
- How to Prepare for a PET-CT Scan: The Complete Checklist
- Preparing a Very Elderly or Frail Person for a PET-CT
- Preparing a Wheelchair-Bound or Bedridden Patient
- Preparing for a PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI PET-CT
- Should I Avoid Exercise Before a PET-CT Scan?
- Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Before a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Break the Fast by Mistake?
- What to Carry to Your PET-CT Appointment
- What to Eat the Day Before a PET-CT Scan
- What to Wear to a PET-CT Scan
- Why Your Kidney Function Test Is Needed Before a PET-CT
Radiation Safety & After-Scan Precautions
- Are You Radioactive After a PET-CT Scan?
- Being Around Pregnant Women After a PET-CT Scan
- Can I Hold My Child or Grandchild After a PET-CT Scan?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Cause Cancer?
- Cumulative Radiation From Repeated Scans
- Do You Need Precautions After a PSMA or DOTATATE Scan?
- Do You Need Separate Utensils or a Separate Toilet After a PET-CT?
- How Long Does the Tracer Stay in Your Body?
- How Long Should You Avoid Close Contact After a PET-CT?
- How Many PET-CT Scans Are Safe in a Year?
- How Much Radiation Is in a PET-CT Scan?
- Is PET-CT Radiation Different From Radiotherapy?
- Is the Radiation From a PET-CT Scan Dangerous?
- PET-CT Radiation Compared With CT, X-Ray and Natural Background
- Radiation Safety at Home After Your Scan: A Family Checklist
- Radiation Safety for Staff and Attendants at the Centre
- Simple Steps to Clear the Tracer Faster
- Travelling Home After a PET-CT Scan: Public Transport and Airports
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long will my family have to wait?
The total time depends on how quickly the radiotracer absorbs and how the centre is running that day — it cannot be guaranteed in advance. Tell your attendant to expect a few hours and to plan for that rather than hoping for a shorter visit. The centre will give a more specific estimate when you check in. The most useful thing your attendant can do is come prepared to wait comfortably rather than planning to dash in and out.
Can I speak to my family during the scan?
Not during the scan itself. The machine is noisy and you need to lie still throughout. Staff in the adjacent control room can hear you through an intercom and will respond if you need anything. Your family is not connected to that system. You can speak freely before you go in and immediately after the scan ends — the separation is only for the duration of the procedure itself.
Is it safe to be near my family after the scan?
Yes, with some simple precautions for the rest of the day. The radiotracer clears from your body naturally over the course of the day. Guidance from bodies such as the IAEA recommends briefly limiting close contact with young children and pregnant women during this window. Your team will give you specific instructions before you leave. For most family members, normal contact is fine as soon as you walk out of the centre.
What if I feel panicked or claustrophobic during the scan?
Tell the staff before the scan starts — not on the day for the first time. If you know you are anxious about enclosed spaces, mention it when you book. The team may be able to suggest steps that help and will be better prepared. During the scan, the intercom means staff can hear you at all times. Saying something or raising your hand will bring the scan to a stop. You are not locked in and you are not alone.
My attendant has a baby with them. Can the baby wait in the scan area?
No. Young children should not wait in or near the scan area because they are more sensitive to radiation exposure. If your attendant has a baby or young child with them, that child needs to wait away from the scan facility — ideally with another family member outside. Plan this before scan day rather than discovering it on arrival. The centre will not be able to make an exception to this rule.