Preparing for Your Scan
Preparing for a PSMA, DOTATATE — or FAPI PET-CT
These three tracers each find a different target in your body, and none of them require the carbohydrate-free diet used for FDG. What does need attention is your medication list — especially for DOTATATE — and arriving at exactly the time your centre gives you.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- No carbohydrate diet needed — Unlike FDG, these tracers do not use glucose — you do not need to change what you eat the day before.
- Fasting is still required — Most protocols ask for a few hours of fasting before the scan. Your centre confirms the exact time at booking.
- Some medications affect the scan — For DOTATATE in particular, the timing of certain injectable treatments matters. Tell your team everything you take.
- Arrive on time — the tracer is prepared for you — These tracers have a short half-life. Arriving late means the scan may need to be rescheduled.
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PSMA, DOTATATE and FAPI PET-CT scans do not need the carbohydrate-free diet required for FDG. You will need to fast for a few hours before most of these scans, stay well hydrated, and — for DOTATATE — have your medication timing checked by your oncologist in advance. Your booking centre will give you tracer-specific instructions.
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.
How do you prepare for a PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI PET-CT?
Tell your oncologist every medicine you take — before the scan date is confirmed
For DOTATATE, certain injectable treatments used in neuroendocrine disease bind to the same receptors the tracer is looking for. Your oncologist needs to know what you take and when your last dose was before a date can be set. Do not stop any medicine on your own.
Confirm fasting and hydration instructions with your centre at booking
Most centres ask for a few hours of fasting. The exact duration depends on your tracer and your centre's protocol. You will also be asked to drink water in the hours before arrival — your centre will confirm how much.
If you have diabetes or reduced kidney function, get guidance from your treating team first
Fasting with diabetes needs a plan — do not simply skip meals and medicines on the morning of the scan. Reduced kidney function can affect how the tracer clears. Both need advice from your treating doctor before the scan date is set.
Arrive at exactly the time you are given
These tracers are prepared fresh for your appointment and their useful window is measured in hours. If you are running late, call the centre as soon as you know — a delay of more than a short margin can mean rescheduling.
Empty your bladder immediately before the scan begins
PSMA tracer collects in the bladder, which can obscure the pelvis on images if the bladder is full. The technician will ask you to use the bathroom before you are positioned.
Lie still once the scan begins
The scan takes between 20 and 45 minutes depending on the tracer. Movement blurs the images. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, let the technician know — they can pause.
What do you need to bring on the day?
- Your referral letter and any prior scan reports, including previous PET-CT images.
- A complete list of current medicines — including injections, supplements, and anything herbal or ayurvedic.
- Comfortable, loose clothing without metal fasteners.
- Your identity document for registration.
- Water to drink during the waiting period after the tracer is given.
- A companion if you wish — the wait after injection is quiet time, and having someone with you is welcome.
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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Why is the preparation different from FDG?
FDG PET-CT uses a glucose-based tracer, so your blood sugar must be controlled and you need a carbohydrate-free diet the night before. PSMA, DOTATATE and FAPI tracers work on entirely different targets — none of them use glucose, so those dietary rules do not apply.
PSMA targets a protein found on prostate cancer cells. DOTATATE targets receptors found on neuroendocrine tumours. FAPI targets a protein in the tissue surrounding many cancers. Because none of these depend on glucose metabolism, you do not need to alter what you eat.
The medication question for DOTATATE is the one that needs early attention. Some treatments for neuroendocrine tumours bind to the same receptors the scan is looking for, and if they are present at the wrong time the scan cannot show what it needs to. This is why your oncologist — not just the scanning centre — needs to be involved before the date is booked.
How do PSMA, DOTATATE and FAPI preparation compare?
| Preparation point | PSMA | DOTATATE | FAPI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate-free diet the night before | Not needed | Not needed | Not needed |
| Fasting before the scan | A few hours — centre confirms | A few hours — centre confirms | Usually a short fast or none — centre confirms |
| Blood glucose check on arrival | Not routinely required | Not routinely required | Not routinely required |
| Medication timing check | Tell your team all medicines you take | Yes — some treatments must be timed carefully with your oncologist before booking | Tell your team all medicines you take |
| Bladder preparation | Empty bladder before scan — important for pelvic imaging | Bladder emptying advised | Standard — centre advises |
| Typically starts | Images taken 45–90 minutes after tracer injection | Images taken 45–90 minutes after tracer injection | Images taken 10–30 minutes after tracer injection |
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.
Explore 92 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
Contrast, Cannula & Procedure Safety
- Can You Have a PET-CT If You Are on Blood Thinners?
- Can You Have a PET-CT Through a Port or PICC Line?
- Contrast Allergy and PET-CT: What to Declare
- Contrast Reaction Symptoms: What to Watch For
- Contrast and Kidney Function: The Creatinine Rule
- Infection Risk and Hygiene at a Scan Centre
- Is Contrast Used in a PET-CT Scan?
- Metformin and Contrast: What Is the Rule?
- Side Effects of a PET-CT Scan
- The Cannula: Bruising, Pain and Difficult Veins
- Tracer Leakage at the Injection Site (Extravasation)
- What If You Feel Unwell During the Scan?
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
Special Populations
- Breastfeeding and PET-CT: How Long to Pause
- PET-CT Scans for Children: A Parent's Guide
- PET-CT With Kidney Disease or on Dialysis
- PET-CT With a Pacemaker, Stent or Metal Implant
- 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
- Sedation and Fasting for a Child's PET Scan
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
I had an FDG PET-CT before. Is the preparation the same?
No, and this is the most common point of confusion. The carbohydrate-free diet and blood sugar rules for FDG do not apply to PSMA, DOTATATE or FAPI. You still need to fast for a few hours before most of these scans, and you still need to arrive on time, but you do not need to change what you eat the day before. Follow the instructions your booking centre gives you for this specific scan — do not carry over what you did for FDG.
Do I need to stop any medicines before the scan?
Do not stop any medicine on your own. For PSMA and FAPI scans, there are usually no specific medication holds — but tell your team everything you take so they can confirm. For DOTATATE, certain treatments for neuroendocrine tumours can interfere with the tracer, and the timing must be agreed with your oncologist before the scan date is fixed. This is a conversation to have early, not the morning of the scan.
I have diabetes. Can I still have the scan?
Yes, but fasting with diabetes needs a plan from your treating team — do not simply skip meals and medicines on the morning of the scan. Call your oncologist or the doctor who manages your diabetes before the scan date and ask how to handle your food and medicines on the day. The scanning centre advises on timing; the diabetes management plan comes from your treating doctor.
Why does it matter if I am a few minutes late?
These tracers are short-lived radioactive isotopes prepared fresh for your appointment. Their useful window is measured in hours, not days. If you arrive significantly late, the image quality may be insufficient and the scan may need to be rescheduled. If anything delays you, call the centre as soon as you know — they can sometimes adjust within a short margin, but they need early notice to try.
Will I be radioactive after the scan? Is it safe to be around my family?
A small amount of radioactivity remains after the scan and clears naturally within a few hours. Most centres advise limiting close contact with pregnant women and young children for a few hours afterwards — your centre will give you specific guidance before you leave. For other adults in your household, normal contact is fine. The dose is within accepted safety limits, and your team will tell you if any extra precaution applies to your situation.