Preparing for Your Scan
PET-CT for Bedridden and — Wheelchair-Bound Patients
Families often assume the scan cannot happen. In most cases it can — if you tell the imaging centre what to expect before the appointment.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Usually possible — Most patients who cannot walk or sit up can still have a PET-CT with the right arrangements in place.
- Tell the centre early — The centre needs to know about mobility, equipment, and transport before the day — not when you arrive.
- Transfer assistance is available — Transfer boards and hoists can usually be arranged, but must be requested at booking, not on the day.
- The planning is the hard part — Patients already lying down often manage the rest period and the scan better than ambulatory patients. Preparation is what determines whether the scan goes ahead.
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A PET-CT scan is possible for most bedridden and wheelchair-bound patients. The imaging table is low and can be reached by transfer board or hoist. What matters is telling the imaging centre in advance — they need to know about mobility, weight, and any equipment you cannot remove.
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.
How to prepare a bedridden or wheelchair-bound patient for PET-CT
Tell the imaging centre when you book
Do not wait until the day. Tell the coordinator the patient uses a wheelchair or is bedridden, whether they can transfer with help, and approximately how much they weigh. This determines what equipment the centre needs to have ready.
List all attached equipment
Tell the centre about anything the patient is connected to — oxygen, a feeding tube, an IV line, a urinary catheter, a wound drain. The team will advise what can remain in place and what needs to be managed differently during the scan.
Arrange transport before the appointment is confirmed
An ambulance or wheelchair-accessible medical vehicle is usually needed. Book it as soon as the scan date is set. Same-day arrangements frequently fall through, and a cancelled transport almost always means a cancelled scan.
Check fasting and preparation instructions with the centre
PET-CT preparation involves fasting and avoiding certain foods beforehand. The centre will give specific instructions at booking. If the patient has diabetes or kidney problems, tell your oncologist — the preparation may need to be adjusted.
On the day: arrive with extra time
Transfer takes longer than walking in. Extra time means neither the patient nor the team is rushed. Arriving calm matters — stress can affect blood glucose, which in turn affects image quality.
During the uptake period: rest quietly
After the tracer injection, the patient rests before the scan begins. Patients who are bedridden often find this period easier than ambulatory patients, who must sit still. Avoid talking or moving more than necessary.
Which situations need extra planning before the appointment?
| Situation | What to disclose at booking | Likely outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair user, transfers with help | Need for transfer assistance | Scan usually goes ahead |
| Fully bedridden, able to lie flat | Mobility level and transport type | Scan usually goes ahead with assistance |
| Cannot lie flat at all | Tell your oncologist before booking | Oncologist and imaging team assess together |
| Attached to oxygen or IV line | List each item when booking | Centre advises what can remain on during scan |
| Very large build | Confirm table capacity with the centre | Most centres can accommodate; confirm before booking is finalised |
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 is the patient transferred onto the scan table?
The PET-CT table is lower than a hospital bed, which makes transfer easier than many families expect. For patients who can assist a little, a transfer board allows a slide across with one or two staff members supporting.
For patients who cannot assist at all, a hoist can usually be arranged — but this must be requested at booking, not on the day. Walk-in requests for hoist transfers cannot always be met.
If the patient cannot hold the required position due to pain or stiffness, tell the centre at booking. The team can sometimes use supports and padding to manage this.
What should you arrange before the appointment?
The three things that most often cause a scan to be cancelled on the day are: transport that did not arrive, a blood glucose level outside the acceptable range, and equipment the centre was not told about.
Book medical transport as soon as the scan date is confirmed and call to confirm it the evening before. If the patient takes medication that affects blood glucose around fasting, ask your oncologist how to manage it — do not adjust doses on your own.
Bring the referral letter and all relevant medical records. If the patient has a port, pacemaker, or any implanted device, bring the device card. The team needs this information even though PET-CT does not use strong magnets the way MRI does.
Did you know?
The most common reason a PET-CT is cancelled on the day for a mobility-impaired patient is not the scan — it is arriving without having told the centre about the need for transfer assistance.
Procedural guidelines from the SNMMI and EANM both address preparation for patients with limited mobility. The consistent finding is that disclosure at booking, not clinical complexity, is what determines whether the scan goes ahead.
Source: SNMMI/EANM FDG-PET/CT Procedure Guidelines for Tumour 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
Can a patient be scanned if they cannot lie completely flat?
It depends on how close to flat they can get and for how long. Some patients who cannot lie fully flat can be positioned with supports to get close enough for a diagnostic image. Others cannot be positioned usefully. The right first step is to tell your oncologist — not to assume the scan is impossible, and not to book without checking. The oncologist and imaging team can usually work out a plan if they know about the difficulty in advance.
How long does the patient need to lie still on the table?
There are two separate periods. First, the uptake period after the injection, when the patient rests quietly — this is often easier for patients already lying down than for ambulatory patients asked to sit still. Second, the scan itself on the table, which varies depending on which part of the body is being examined. If lying still is difficult due to pain, tell the imaging centre at booking so the team can plan around it.
What kind of transport should we arrange?
An ambulance or dedicated medical transport vehicle with a stretcher or wheelchair ramp is usually needed. Standard taxis are not suitable for patients who cannot transfer independently. Book as soon as the scan date is confirmed — last-minute bookings frequently fall through. Confirm again the evening before. A cancelled transport almost always means a cancelled scan, and rebooking a PET-CT slot can take weeks.
Will the patient's oxygen line or IV drip cause a problem?
Not necessarily, but the team must know before the day. Many patients are scanned with oxygen in place. Some lines and devices can remain; others need to be managed differently during the scan. The centre's coordinator will ask about attached equipment at booking and advise on each item. Do not assume the team will improvise on arrival — some arrangements require equipment that has to be booked in advance.
What if the patient is too unwell to complete the scan on the day?
Tell the team as soon as you arrive, or call ahead if you know on the way. A scan that is started and not completed is generally not diagnostic, and the tracer has already been given. It is better to cancel and rebook than to attempt a scan that cannot be finished. If the patient's condition has changed significantly since the referral was made, ask your oncologist whether the scan remains the right investigation.