Cardiac PET-CT Preparation
Cardiac PET Scan for — Sarcoidosis and Heart Inflammation
You may have been sent to a cancer imaging centre, but this scan has nothing to do with cancer. It looks for patches of inflammation in the heart muscle, and it requires a preparation — a strict high-fat, no-carbohydrate diet — that is unlike any other PET scan.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Not a cancer test — This scan looks for active inflammation in heart tissue caused by sarcoidosis, not for tumours.
- The diet is the preparation — A high-fat, carbohydrate-free diet suppresses normal heart metabolism so inflammation shows clearly on the scan.
- Preparation starts the day before — The diet begins before the morning of your appointment — usually the day before, sometimes two days before.
- Your own specialist reads the result — CION coordinates the scan. Your referring cardiologist or physician interprets the findings and decides what happens next.
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Cardiac PET for sarcoidosis looks for patches of active inflammation in the heart muscle that ECG and echocardiogram may not reliably show. A radiotracer taken up by inflamed tissue creates the signal. To read it clearly, you follow a strict high-fat, no-carbohydrate diet starting the day before — preparation unlike any other PET scan.
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 is a cardiac PET scan looking for in sarcoidosis?
Sarcoidosis is a condition where the immune system forms small clusters of inflamed cells, called granulomas, in different organs. When granulomas form in the heart, they can disrupt the electrical system and the muscle itself — sometimes before any symptoms appear.
The PET scan uses a radiotracer that is absorbed by tissue with high metabolic activity, which includes areas of active inflammation. This allows the scan to show where in the heart the granulomas are and how active they currently are — information that guides whether and how to treat.
This is not a cancer investigation. You have been referred to a nuclear medicine facility within CION's network because cardiac PET requires specialised equipment. The clinical responsibility for your care stays entirely with your referring specialist.
Why does this scan need a high-fat, no-carbohydrate diet?
Your heart normally runs on glucose — the sugar your body makes from carbohydrates. The PET radiotracer behaves like glucose, so a heart fuelled by carbohydrates will absorb it everywhere, making any inflammation impossible to distinguish from normal tissue.
The high-fat, no-carbohydrate diet switches your heart from glucose to fat as its fuel. Once the heart is running on fat, it stops competing for the radiotracer. Only the inflamed patches — which continue to burn glucose regardless — light up clearly on the scan.
This is why the diet is not optional. A scan done without correct preparation may give a result that cannot be interpreted, and the scan may need to be repeated. SNMMI and ESNM protocols for cardiac sarcoidosis PET specify this dietary preparation as essential to a readable study.
What you need to do before your appointment
- Start the diet on the day your team specified — usually the day before the scan, sometimes two days before.
- Eat only high-fat foods during the preparation: eggs, meat, fish, full-fat cheese, butter, nuts, avocado, and non-starchy vegetables cooked in oil.
- Avoid all carbohydrates: bread, rice, roti, dal, fruit, fruit juice, sugar, sweets, biscuits, and milk.
- From midnight the night before, take nothing by mouth except plain water and any medications your team has told you to continue.
- Avoid tea, coffee, and energy drinks from midnight.
- If you have diabetes, contact your referring specialist before the scan — blood sugar management during the fast needs to be planned in advance.
- Bring your referral letter and a complete list of your current medications.
- Arrive at your scheduled time. The radiotracer is prepared for your specific appointment.
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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How long does the preparation take, and what happens on the day?
The dietary preparation is the longest part. Depending on your referring team's protocol, it begins one to two days before the scan. The overnight fast from food — while continuing water and approved medications — starts the night before.
On the day, a radiotracer is given through a small cannula, usually in the arm. There is then a waiting period while it circulates. The scan itself involves lying still in the scanner for a period your team will tell you in advance. Plan to be at the centre for two to three hours in total.
Results are reported by a nuclear medicine physician and sent to your referring specialist. CION does not contact you directly with findings — follow up with your cardiologist or physician's office within the timeframe they have given you.
Questions families ask about this scan
Why am I having this scan at a cancer centre when I do not have cancer?
Cardiac PET requires a specific type of scanner and a radiopharmacy that produces and delivers the radiotracer on the same day. These facilities are most commonly found within cancer networks because cancer is the most frequent reason PET is requested. Being referred here means your specialist wants the most accurate test available for your heart — it says nothing about a cancer diagnosis or suspicion. This is entirely a cardiac investigation.
Will the high-fat diet make me feel unwell?
Some people notice mild fatigue or headache when cutting carbohydrates sharply, particularly during the first day. This is a normal adjustment and usually settles. Eating enough fat during the allowed period helps. If you feel genuinely unwell — not just uncomfortable — call your referring team rather than breaking the diet on your own, because they may need to reschedule rather than risk a scan result that cannot be interpreted.
Can I take my regular medications during the preparation?
Most medications can and should be continued. The important exceptions are those that significantly affect blood sugar — particularly insulin and some diabetes tablets — which your team may want to adjust during the fast. Do not stop any medication on your own assumption. Bring your full medication list to the appointment, and contact your referring specialist before the scan if you are uncertain about any specific medicine.
What happens if I accidentally eat carbohydrates during the preparation?
Tell the nuclear medicine team before the scan starts. Depending on when it happened and how much you ate, they may proceed and note the deviation in the report, or they may ask you to reschedule. A scan performed after incomplete preparation can appear normal when it is not — a delayed scan is far less harmful than a misleading result. Honesty about what you ate protects you and the reliability of the findings.
How soon will my doctor receive the result?
Reports are typically completed within a few working days and sent directly to your referring specialist. The nuclear medicine physician interprets the images; your cardiologist or physician then discusses what the findings mean for your treatment. CION does not make clinical decisions from the result — the clinical responsibility rests entirely with your referring team, who will explain what the scan found and what, if anything, changes because of it.
Did you know?
Cardiac sarcoidosis can be active and causing damage before any symptoms appear, and standard tests including ECG and echocardiogram may look entirely normal even when the heart muscle is involved.
FDG PET-CT is recognised by SNMMI and ESNM as the most sensitive imaging method currently available for detecting active cardiac inflammation in sarcoidosis — which is precisely why the dietary preparation that makes it readable is so important.
Source: SNMMI/ESNM Expert Consensus Recommendations on Cardiac Sarcoidosis Imaging
Book a PET-CT at CION from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation, across 4 partner centres. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the radiotracer safe, and will I be radioactive after the scan?
The radiotracer contains a small amount of radioactivity that clears from your body within a few hours. The dose involved is considered acceptable for the clinical information the scan provides, and it is comparable to other nuclear medicine investigations. You will not need to isolate afterwards, though the team may suggest avoiding prolonged close contact with young children or pregnant women for a few hours as a standard precaution. This is routine guidance, not a sign that anything has gone wrong.
Why can an MRI or echocardiogram not show the same thing?
Echocardiogram shows how the heart moves and pumps, and can detect structural changes, but it does not reliably show active inflammation in the muscle itself. Cardiac MRI is also used in sarcoidosis investigation and shows different information — primarily scarring left by past disease rather than current activity. PET is useful because it shows metabolic activity happening right now. Your specialist may use both MRI and PET together for a more complete picture of what is happening in your heart.
Can I drive myself home after the scan?
Yes, in most cases. The radiotracer does not affect your ability to drive, and no sedation is given. However, you will have fasted and followed a restricted diet for one or two days, so some people feel lightheaded or fatigued after the scan. Eating something permitted by your team before you leave the centre helps. If you feel unwell, wait until you are confident you are safe to drive, or ask someone to collect you.
My doctor mentioned a heparin injection before the scan. What is that for?
Some cardiac PET protocols for sarcoidosis include a heparin injection shortly before the radiotracer is given. Heparin encourages the heart to run on fatty acids rather than glucose, reinforcing the shift the diet has already achieved. Not every centre uses this step — it depends on your referring team's chosen protocol. If it has been mentioned to you, it will be explained again on the day. It is a standard part of some protocols, not a treatment for a separate condition.
What does it mean if the scan shows no inflammation?
A result showing no active uptake in the heart is genuinely useful information for your specialist. It may mean cardiac sarcoidosis is not active at this time, or that treatment has brought it under control. It does not mean the diagnosis of sarcoidosis is wrong. Your cardiologist or physician will explain what a negative result means alongside your other tests and symptoms. The decision about what to do next rests entirely with your referring team — CION's role is to provide the scan, not to draw clinical conclusions from it.