Infection imaging — not cancer
PET-CT for Suspected Infection — in Implants and Grafts
Your specialist has referred you for a PET-CT scan to look for infection in or around an implant — not for cancer. The scan shows where your immune system is most active, helping locate an infection that other tests may have missed.
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 scan — This investigation looks for infection, not tumours. You are at a PET centre because the technology is the same, not because your condition is related to cancer.
- Three main implant types — Cardiac devices, vascular grafts and prosthetic joints are the most common indications for this scan.
- Sees inflammation, not just anatomy — The PET part shows where immune cells are most active — something standard CT or X-ray cannot do.
- Your specialist interprets the result — The report goes to the doctor who referred you. The scan is one piece of evidence; they make the clinical decision.
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PET-CT detects infection by showing where your immune cells are most active. It is used for cardiac implants, vascular grafts and joint replacements when blood tests and other scans have not found the source. This is not a cancer investigation. Your referring specialist has ordered it to locate a suspected infection in or around your implant.
At CION, a whole-body PET-CT starts from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Why are you having a PET-CT scan if you do not have cancer?
You are here for an infection scan, not a cancer scan. PET-CT is used in many situations that have nothing to do with cancer, and suspected implant infection is one of them.
Your specialist has referred you because standard investigations — blood tests, cultures or CT — have not given a clear answer about whether your implant is infected. This scan adds the functional picture they need.
The report goes to the doctor who referred you. They carry clinical responsibility for your care and will explain the findings at your next appointment.
What does PET-CT show around an infected implant?
The scan uses a mildly radioactive glucose tracer called FDG. Immune cells active at a site of infection absorb it in the same way that rapidly dividing cells do — which is why the same scanner is used for both infection and cancer imaging.
Around an infected implant, FDG accumulates where inflammation is most intense. The scan shows the location and extent of that inflammation, helping your specialist judge whether infection is present and how far it has spread.
CT is acquired at the same time and adds anatomical detail — identifying exactly which part of a prosthetic joint, graft or device is involved.
Which implants can PET-CT assess for infection?
- Cardiac implantable electronic devices — pacemakers, defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy devices
- Vascular grafts — synthetic or biological grafts repairing major blood vessels, including the aorta
- Prosthetic hip and knee joints
- Other orthopaedic implants — plates, rods and screws where infection is suspected and other tests are inconclusive
- Spinal implants and fusion hardware, on your specialist's advice
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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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)
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Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
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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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What happens on the day of your scan?
Arrive fasting
You will need to fast for several hours before the scan. Water is allowed. Your referral letter carries the specific instructions.
Tracer injection
A small amount of FDG tracer is injected into a vein in your arm. The dose is low and leaves your body within a few hours.
Rest quietly
You rest for about an hour while the tracer distributes. Moving around during this period can affect the result, so the wait matters.
The scan
You lie still on a table that moves slowly through the scanner. This takes around half an hour. The machine makes no noise beyond a gentle hum.
Report to your specialist
Images are reviewed and a report sent to the doctor who referred you, usually within one to two working days.
How reliable is PET-CT for finding infection in an implant?
For cardiac implantable devices and vascular grafts, EANM and ESC guidelines support PET-CT as a useful diagnostic step when standard investigations have not provided a clear answer.
For prosthetic joints, accuracy depends on how long the implant has been in place. In the weeks after surgery, normal healing can look similar to infection on PET-CT, and your specialist will account for the timing.
No imaging test is conclusive on its own. The report is evidence your referring specialist weighs alongside symptoms, blood results and history. The final clinical decision rests with them.
What else should you know before the scan?
Will the tracer or scanner affect my pacemaker or metal implant?
FDG is a glucose-like molecule. It does not interact with pacemakers, defibrillators or metal implants. The concern about MRI and metallic implants does not apply here — PET-CT uses an X-ray-based scanner, not a magnetic field. Tell the team about your device when you arrive so they can record it and adjust scan timing if needed.
Why wasn't a simpler scan ordered before this one?
Standard X-ray, ultrasound and CT show anatomy well but cannot reliably distinguish active infection from post-surgical scarring. Blood cultures can be negative even when an implant is infected. PET-CT adds metabolic information — showing which tissue is actively inflamed — which is why it is ordered when anatomy-based tests have not given a clear answer.
How much radiation is involved?
The scan involves ionising radiation from both the FDG tracer and the CT component. Your specialist has judged that finding — or reliably ruling out — a serious implant infection outweighs this exposure. Tell the team if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before any tracer is given.
What happens if the scan shows infection?
A positive result does not mean a decision is made immediately. Your referring specialist will review the scan alongside your symptoms, blood results and culture findings. The next step may be a change in antibiotics, further imaging or discussion of surgery. That decision belongs to your specialist — the imaging team produces the report, not the plan.
Does being scanned at a cancer centre mean my problem is related to cancer?
No. PET-CT technology is used for infection, inflammation, cardiac assessment and cancer — many centres run all of these indications. Being scanned at a centre associated with cancer care means only that the equipment is there. Your referral is entirely for an infection indication, and no cancer investigation is being done.
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.
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Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is PET-CT better than MRI or CT for detecting implant infection?
It is different rather than simply better. CT shows anatomy well but cannot reliably distinguish active infection from post-surgical change. MRI has limitations with metallic implants and is contraindicated for some cardiac devices. PET-CT adds metabolic information — showing where immune activity is highest — which is why EANM and ESC guidance positions it as a useful next step when anatomy-based scans and cultures have not resolved the question.
Can the scan tell whether my implant needs to be removed?
No. The scan shows where inflammation is and how intense it is — it does not make the treatment decision. Whether an implant needs to be revised or removed is a judgement your referring specialist makes, weighing the scan alongside your fitness for any procedure and the full clinical picture. The imaging team produces the report; your specialist produces the plan.
How should I prepare for the scan?
Your referral letter will carry the specific instructions. In general, fast for several hours beforehand, drink water freely, and avoid strenuous exercise the day before and on the day. Tell the team about all your medications, any allergies, and whether you have diabetes, since blood glucose affects how the tracer is taken up.
What happens if the scan result is inconclusive?
Some scans do not give a clear positive or negative answer. This can happen if the implant was placed recently — normal healing can resemble infection on PET-CT — or if another illness is affecting tracer distribution. Your specialist will explain what an inconclusive result means in your situation and whether further tests or a repeat scan would help.
Will I need to stay in hospital after the scan?
No. The scan is done as an outpatient procedure. You do not need to be admitted. After the scan you are free to leave, though you will be asked to avoid prolonged close contact with pregnant women and young children for the rest of the day because of small residual radioactivity from the tracer. You can eat normally as soon as the scan is complete.