Preparing for your scan
Preparing an Elderly or Frail Person — for a PET-CT Scan
A PET-CT asks the patient to fast, receive an injection, rest quietly for a period, and then lie still in a scanner. For a frail or elderly person, each of those steps needs a little more planning — and most of that planning happens before the day.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Tell the centre at booking — Declaring frailty or limited mobility when you book allows the centre to schedule extra time and arrange appropriate support.
- The fast needs careful planning — Patients with diabetes or who take medicines that depend on eating should discuss the fast with their treating team before the scan date.
- Someone must come with them — A frail patient should not travel alone. The carer's presence during the waiting period after the injection can make the difference between a completed scan and a cancelled one.
- Plan for a two-to-three-hour visit — The patient will be tired afterward. Plan for a quiet afternoon and a light meal once the scan is finished.
17+
Cancer Specialists
on Panel
on Panel
96.9%
Breast Cancer
Survival Rate*
Survival Rate*
15,000+
Patients
Treated
Treated
4.8★
Google Rating
(800+ reviews)
(800+ reviews)
A PET-CT is manageable for most elderly and frail patients, but it needs more planning than for a younger person. The key steps are: tell the booking centre about any frailty or special needs at the time of booking, plan the fast and the journey in advance, and bring someone who can stay for the whole visit.
A whole-body PET-CT at CION costs from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
How to prepare an elderly or frail family member for a PET-CT
Declare the patient's needs when you book
Tell the imaging centre at the time of booking that the patient is elderly, frail, or has limited mobility. Do not wait until the morning of the scan. The centre can schedule extra time, note the need for carer access, and flag any positioning adjustments in advance.
Clarify the fast with the treating team before the day
The centre will confirm the fast duration when you book. If the patient has diabetes, takes medicines that require food, or has any condition that makes fasting risky, speak with the treating oncologist before the scan date — not on the morning.
Arrange transport and a carer for the full visit
The patient should not drive and should not travel alone. Arrange a vehicle that is easy for them to get in and out of. The carer should plan to stay for the entire two-to-three-hour visit, including the quiet waiting period after the injection.
Pack for comfort
Bring a light blanket or shawl — the scan room and waiting area are often cool. Loose clothing without metal zips, underwire, or decorative buttons makes the process faster. Carry a small snack and a drink for immediately after the scan is finished.
On the day: arrive with time to spare
Rushing makes the fast harder and raises anxiety. After the tracer injection, the patient will rest quietly while the tracer reaches the tissues. This waiting period is often the most demanding part for a frail patient. Ask whether a carer can sit with them during it when you book.
After the scan: plan rest and a light meal
The patient can eat and drink as soon as the scan is finished. Plan for a quiet afternoon at home. If the patient feels significantly more unwell than expected, contact the treating team.
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
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
Get a straight answer from a specialist
45 minutes, your reports reviewed, your questions answered in plain language.
What if the patient cannot lie still or lie flat?
This is one of the most common concerns families raise, and it is worth mentioning before the day rather than on arrival. Tell the centre about back pain, hip pain, tremors, or any condition that makes lying still difficult.
PET-CT scanners are open at both ends, which makes them less confining than some MRI machines. The table is firm and narrow, but some centres can offer padding or positioning support for patients who need it.
The scan can often be paused briefly if the patient needs a moment to settle. Ask about this option when you book — raising it in advance gives the team time to plan rather than improvise on the day.
Did you know?
For many frail patients, the quiet waiting period after the tracer injection is harder than the scan itself — it is often the longest part of the visit, and it must be spent sitting still.
Asking the centre whether a carer can sit with the patient during this time is a reasonable request and worth raising when you book.
Source: SNMMI/EANM Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards for FDG PET/CT Tumour Imaging
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
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
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
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
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
Your next step
Talk to an oncologist about your scan
Your PET-CT report read by a senior oncologist, explained in plain language, with a free 45-minute consultation.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a frail elderly patient safely manage the fast before a PET-CT?
Most can, with preparation. The centre will confirm the exact fast duration when you book. Plain water is usually permitted throughout and helps the patient stay comfortable. If the patient feels dizzy, very weak, or unwell during the fast, contact the treating team or the imaging centre before travelling. Do not offer food or a sweetened drink without checking first — it can affect the scan result and may mean the visit is wasted.
What if the patient has diabetes?
Diabetes changes how the tracer behaves in the body, and the preparation is different from a patient without diabetes. This is not something to manage on your own. Before the scan date, inform the treating oncologist. They will advise the imaging centre and give you specific instructions for that day. Do not adjust any medicines without that guidance.
Can the carer go into the scan room with the patient?
During the scan itself, the carer is generally not in the scanner room. However, a carer can almost always be present during registration, preparation, and the quiet waiting period after the injection. Ask the centre what is permitted when you book, and mention that the patient's comfort during the waiting period may need carer support. Most centres will accommodate a reasonable request made in advance.
What if the patient has tremors or cannot keep still?
Tell the centre at the time of booking, not on the day. The team can sometimes adjust the scan protocol or patient positioning to reduce the effect of movement. In some cases the radiologist will review whether a different imaging approach is more appropriate. Arriving and disclosing this on the morning leaves no time to plan, and the scan may need to be rescheduled — which prolongs the wait for results.
How tired will the patient be after the scan?
A two-to-three-hour visit that involves fasting, an injection, a period of sitting still, and then lying in a scanner is genuinely tiring for a frail person. Some tiredness afterward is expected and normal. Plan for a quiet afternoon, a light meal as soon as the scan is finished, and no other commitments that day. If the patient is significantly more fatigued than usual the following day, or feels unwell, contact the treating team.