Your safety during the scan
If You Feel Unwell — During Your PET-CT Scan
Many people worry about what happens if they feel sick or anxious inside the scanner. The answer is straightforward: you can stop at any moment, there is a button in your hand to do it, and the team will come to you immediately.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- You can stop at any point — The call button in your hand is there to use. Press it and the technologist will be with you immediately.
- The intercom is always open — You can speak and the team can hear you throughout the entire scan, without any delay.
- No reason is too small — Pain, nausea, claustrophobia, needing to cough — none of these requires you to push through alone.
- The team is ready for this — Staff are trained for reactions and discomfort. Pausing or stopping a scan is part of what they do every day.
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You can stop a PET-CT scan at any time. There is a call button or squeeze bulb in your hand for the entire procedure — press it and the technologist will come to you immediately. The scan will be paused. You do not need to decide whether your reason is serious enough. That is the team's job.
CION's PET-CT scans in Hyderabad start at Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How do you signal the team and stop the scan?
A call button or squeeze bulb is placed in your hand before the scan begins. Pressing it alerts the technologist without any delay.
The room also has a two-way intercom. The technologist can hear you throughout, and you can hear them. This line is open the entire time you are inside the machine.
Use it for any reason — pain, nausea, claustrophobia, needing to cough or move. The team would rather pause and check than have you wait alone.
They will come into the room, assess what you are feeling, and decide with you what happens next. Nothing continues without your agreement.
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.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
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)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Interventional Radiologist
Dr. Mohammed Imran
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Did you know?
IAEA safety standards for nuclear medicine require that patients be able to communicate with the operating team throughout a procedure.
The call button and intercom in every scanning room are required safety equipment — not optional extras.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city — including an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 92 more Preparing For and Having Your Scan Safely topics
Contrast, Cannula & Procedure Safety
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Diabetes & Blood Sugar for PET-CT
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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?
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- 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
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- Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Before a PET-CT Scan
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Radiation Safety & After-Scan Precautions
- Are You Radioactive After a PET-CT Scan?
- Being Around Pregnant Women After a PET-CT Scan
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- 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?
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Scan Day: What Actually Happens
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- 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?
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Special Populations
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- PET-CT for Claustrophobic Patients
- PET-CT for Patients Who Cannot Lie Flat
- PET-CT for Patients With Anxiety or Panic Disorder
- PET-CT for Patients With Dementia or Confusion
- PET-CT for Patients With Incontinence or a Catheter
- PET-CT for Patients With a Stoma
- PET-CT for Patients on Long-Term Steroids
- PET-CT for Very Elderly or Frail Patients
- PET-CT for Very Heavy Patients: Weight and Bore Limits
- PET-CT for Wheelchair and Bedbound Patients
- PET-CT in Pregnancy: Why It Is Avoided
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Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I really ask to stop at any point in the scan?
Yes, at any point — including partway through, including immediately after the injection. Press the call button in your hand or speak through the intercom. The technologist will pause the scan and come to you. You do not need to push through. You do not need to decide whether your reason is legitimate. The team will assess that.
What happens after I press the call button?
The technologist comes into the room. They will ask what you are feeling, check your condition, and decide whether the scan should pause briefly, stop completely, or continue once you are comfortable. If you need medical attention, they will arrange it. Nothing moves forward without your agreement.
What if I feel claustrophobic once I am inside the scanner?
Tell the team immediately through the intercom or call button. Claustrophobia during a scan is something the team encounters regularly. The scanner is open at both ends, which some people find helps. If you cannot continue, the scan can be stopped. Your oncologist can then discuss whether rescheduling or a different approach is the right next step.
Is it normal to feel warm or notice a strange taste after the injection?
A feeling of warmth or a strange sensation shortly after an injection can occur. Tell the team immediately if this happens — even if it seems mild. They are trained to assess whether what you are feeling is an expected response or one that needs attention. Do not wait to see if it passes on its own.
What if I feel dizzy or sick during the scan?
Press the call button or speak through the intercom straight away. Do not wait to see if it settles. The cause may be simple — anxiety, lying still for a long time, or a response to the injection — and the team will assess which it is. Pausing the scan, sitting up, or being given water often helps. If it does not, the team will decide whether you need further care.
Will stopping the scan affect my results?
It depends on how far into the scan the stop occurred. Your oncologist will review what was completed and decide whether it is enough for a clinical decision or whether you need to return. This is not a decision you should make while feeling unwell inside the machine. Press the button. Let the team make that call.
What should I tell the team before the scan if I am worried about feeling unwell?
Tell them before the scan begins. Mention any previous reactions to injections, any history of claustrophobia, any medical conditions that might become relevant, and any medicines you have taken that day. This is also the moment to confirm where the call button is and that the intercom is working. The more the team knows before you go in, the better prepared they will be.
When would the team call an ambulance or send me to hospital?
If a reaction does not settle quickly, or involves difficulty breathing, swelling, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or a significant change in your condition, the team will call emergency services and manage the situation while you wait. CION centres have emergency protocols in place for this. You do not need to decide when it is serious enough — the team will make that call.