Neuroendocrine tumour imaging
Preparing for a — DOTANOC or DOTATATE Scan
Two things can make a DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan unreadable: arriving without fasting, and having your somatostatin injection too close to the scan date. Both are preventable once you know about them.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Fasting is required — You need to fast for several hours before the scan. Water is encouraged. Your team will confirm the exact window at booking.
- Somatostatin injection timing is critical — Long-acting somatostatin analogues occupy the same receptors the tracer needs. The scan must be timed to the end of your injection cycle.
- Tracer supply is confirmed at booking — DOTANOC and DOTATATE are prepared to order, not kept in stock. Your appointment secures the dose — rescheduling late wastes it.
- Plan your travel before confirming the date — Most patients travel specifically for this scan. Confirm the date is firm before you book transport or accommodation.
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Yes, fasting is required before a DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan. More importantly, if you are on a long-acting somatostatin analogue such as octreotide LAR or lanreotide, the scan must be timed around your injection schedule. Both preparations directly protect the accuracy of what the scan can show.
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.
Do you need to fast before a DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan?
Yes. You need to fast for several hours before the scan. Plain water is allowed and encouraged — good hydration helps your kidneys clear the tracer and reduces background signal in the images. Your team will confirm the exact fasting window when they book you in.
If you have diabetes, tell the nuclear medicine team when you book. Fasting affects blood sugar, and they may need to adjust how you take insulin or oral medication on the scan day.
Do not stop any other regular medicine without asking first. Most routine medicines do not interfere with this scan. Bring a list of everything you take to the appointment.
Do you have to pause your somatostatin injection before the scan?
If you are on a long-acting somatostatin analogue — octreotide LAR, lanreotide Autogel, or a similar monthly depot injection — yes. These medicines occupy the same receptors in tumour tissue that the DOTANOC or DOTATATE tracer needs to bind to. If those receptors are already blocked when the tracer arrives, it cannot reach them, and the scan will underestimate or miss disease that is there.
EANM and ENETS guidance recommends timing the scan at the end of your injection cycle — as close to when your next scheduled dose falls due as possible, not shortly after your last one. Tell the team managing your injections and the nuclear medicine centre at the same time when you book, so both can agree on a date.
If you are on short-acting subcutaneous octreotide rather than a monthly depot, the washout needed is shorter. Ask your nuclear medicine team specifically how far in advance to hold it for your formulation — do not stop it on your own without asking.
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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What else do you need to arrange before scan day?
Bring your most recent CT, MRI or previous PET scan on a disc or USB. The nuclear medicine team reads DOTANOC and DOTATATE images alongside earlier scans to understand what has changed. Without prior imaging, important context is missing.
Set aside most of the day. After the injection, you will wait while the tracer distributes through your body before the scan acquisition begins. This waiting period is standard practice, not a sign of any problem.
If you are travelling from outside Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, confirm the scan date is firm before booking transport or accommodation. The tracer is ordered for a specific date and time and cannot be held if you reschedule.
Did you know?
DOTANOC and DOTATATE tracers find tumours by binding to somatostatin receptors on tumour cells. Somatostatin analogue drugs — octreotide, lanreotide — use exactly the same receptors. A monthly depot injection given too close to the scan can make tumour deposits invisible on imaging, not because the disease has gone, but because the binding sites are already occupied.
This is one of the few scan preparations where the timing of an ongoing treatment, not just food or drink, directly determines what the scan is able to show.
Source: European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) Guidelines; ENETS Consensus Guidelines for Neuroendocrine Tumours
Preparation questions patients ask most
What if my injection date and my scan date are too close together?
This is a common scheduling problem and it is usually solvable with a few weeks of notice. Contact the nuclear medicine centre and the team managing your somatostatin injections at the same time, and ask them to coordinate on a date that falls near the end of your injection cycle. Do not delay your injection without telling your treating team — they need to be part of the decision, not surprised by it.
Can I take my other cancer medicines on the scan day?
Most oncology medicines do not interfere with DOTANOC or DOTATATE imaging, but your nuclear medicine team needs to confirm this for your specific drugs. Tell them everything you take — names, doses, timing — when you book and again when you arrive. Do not stop targeted therapies or hormonal treatments on your own. Some medicines require fasting anyway, so the scan's fasting window may naturally cover them.
Can I take herbal medicines or Ayurvedic preparations before the scan?
Tell your nuclear medicine team about everything you are taking, including supplements and herbal preparations. Some compounds may affect receptor expression or tracer uptake in ways that are not yet fully studied. The team is not there to judge what you take — they need a complete picture to read your images accurately. Bring a written list of everything, including how often you take it.
How much does a DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan cost at a CION partner centre?
Both DOTANOC and DOTATATE PET-CT scans are available at an indicative cost of ₹23,999 at CION partner imaging centres, current at the time of writing. Tracer availability is confirmed when you book, not assumed. There may be additional costs for consultation or contrast depending on what your oncologist has requested. Confirm the final amount directly with the imaging centre.
What if I fasted but accidentally ate something small?
Tell the nuclear medicine team when you arrive — do not say nothing and hope it will not matter. Whether a small amount of food affects the scan depends on the timing and what was eaten, and the team will decide whether to proceed or reschedule. Disclosing it is what protects you: a compromised scan can mean missed findings or an avoidable repeat procedure.
Will the scan tell us whether the treatment is working?
A DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan shows where somatostatin receptor-positive tumour tissue is located and, over serial scans, whether that picture has changed. It is one piece of information your oncologist uses alongside symptoms, other imaging and clinical assessment. A single scan does not give a verdict on treatment response, and no scan result can be guaranteed in advance.
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
How long before the scan do I need to stop octreotide LAR?
Rather than working back from a fixed number of days, work forwards from your injection schedule. EANM and ENETS guidance recommends timing the scan at the end of your cycle — as close to when your next injection would normally fall due as possible. Tell the nuclear medicine team and the doctor managing your injections the same week you book. Do not delay an injection without informing your treating team.
Is lanreotide different from octreotide LAR for scan preparation?
Both are long-acting somatostatin analogues that occupy the receptors the tracer needs, so the preparation principle is the same: time the scan at the end of your injection cycle. The duration of effect differs between formulations, so tell your nuclear medicine team specifically which drug you are on and when your last dose was given — not just the drug class.
Can I drink water while fasting before the scan?
Yes, and you should. Plain water does not affect the tracer. Being well hydrated when the tracer is injected helps your kidneys clear it during the scan and reduces background activity in the urinary tract, making the images cleaner and easier to report. Avoid juice, sugary drinks, and caffeinated drinks during the fasting window unless your team says otherwise.
Why is the tracer sometimes not available on a preferred date?
DOTANOC and DOTATATE are radiolabelled compounds with a short physical half-life. They are produced in small batches and used within hours — they cannot be stored between patients. At CION partner imaging centres, availability is confirmed at the time of booking. Rescheduling at short notice is disruptive because the dose prepared for you cannot be redirected and a new one must be ordered for the new date.
How long will I be at the imaging centre on the day?
Set aside most of the day. After the tracer is injected, a waiting period follows while it distributes through your body before the scan acquisition starts. This is standard for this type of scan and takes longer than a routine CT. Bring water and something to keep you occupied. The team will give you a clearer time estimate when you check in; the window quoted at booking is approximate.
Do I need a referral to book a DOTANOC or DOTATATE scan?
Yes. A referral from your oncologist or the team managing your neuroendocrine tumour is required. The referring team specifies the clinical question the scan is intended to answer, which allows the nuclear medicine team to report it correctly. If you are travelling from outside Telangana or Andhra Pradesh, confirm with the imaging centre that a referral from another state is accepted before you finalise any travel plans.