Before your PSMA PET-CT
Preparing for a — PSMA PET-CT Scan
Most patients preparing for a PSMA PET-CT assume they need to fast — because that is what FDG PET scans require. PSMA preparation is different. The scan uses a different tracer and a different mechanism, which changes what you need to do before you arrive.
Medically reviewed by Dr. T. Raghavender Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · DM (Medical Oncology) · MD (Radiation Oncology) · Last reviewed September 2026
- No fasting needed — PSMA PET-CT does not use glucose as a tracer, so there is no reason to skip meals before the scan.
- Drink water freely — Good hydration before the scan helps reduce tracer activity in the bladder, which improves pelvic image quality.
- Most medications are fine — You can take your regular medicines before the scan unless your imaging team tells you to hold a specific one.
- Allow about two hours — The tracer needs roughly an hour to distribute after injection before the scan begins, so plan your day accordingly.
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PSMA PET-CT preparation is simpler than many patients expect. Unlike an FDG PET scan, you do not need to fast beforehand. You can eat normally, continue most medications, and drink water freely. The tracer takes about an hour to distribute after injection, so plan to be at the imaging centre for roughly two hours in total.
CION's PET-CT scans in Hyderabad start at Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city, with no hidden charges. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Why is PSMA PET-CT preparation different from a standard PET scan?
Most PET scans in India use a tracer called FDG, which behaves like glucose and highlights wherever your cells are most active. That is why FDG PET requires fasting — food raises your blood sugar and makes the images harder to read.
PSMA PET-CT uses a different tracer entirely. It seeks out a protein called prostate-specific membrane antigen, which sits at high levels on prostate cancer cells. Glucose in your body does not interfere with this process at all.
The practical result is that you can eat and drink normally before a PSMA PET-CT. If you have been given fasting instructions, check whether they were written for this scan specifically — they may have been prepared for a different type of PET.
What do you need to do on the day of your scan?
Eat and drink normally
Have a regular meal before you come in. Drink plenty of water on the morning of your appointment. Good hydration helps your kidneys clear the tracer and reduces activity in the bladder, which gives cleaner images of the pelvic region.
Take your regular medications
Continue your usual medicines with water unless your oncologist or the imaging centre has told you to hold a specific one. If you are on androgen deprivation therapy, continue it as prescribed — your team will account for it when interpreting the scan.
Arrive at the imaging centre
PSMA PET-CT through CION is coordinated at partner imaging centres. Your booking confirmation will name the centre and confirm tracer availability for your slot. Allow 15 minutes on arrival for registration.
Receive the tracer injection
A small amount of radiotracer is given through a cannula in your arm. The injection takes a moment. Most people feel nothing; occasionally there is a mild warmth that passes quickly.
Rest quietly for about an hour
You will wait in a quiet area while the tracer distributes through your body and binds to PSMA-expressing tissue. Avoid walking around more than necessary during this period — the imaging centre will guide you on what is fine.
Empty your bladder before the scan
You will be asked to urinate just before entering the scanner. PSMA tracer concentrates in the kidneys and bladder; an empty bladder gives cleaner images of the pelvis, which matters in prostate cancer staging.
The scan itself
The scan takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes. You will lie still on the table as it moves slowly through the scanner. The machine is open on both sides, so it does not feel enclosed the way an MRI does.
After the scan
Drink extra water for the rest of the day to help your body clear the tracer through urine. Avoid prolonged, close contact with pregnant women and young children for a few hours — normal household contact is fine.
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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Are there any medications or conditions that change the preparation?
For most patients, no special adjustments are needed beyond what is described above. If you have a condition affecting kidney function, or are on certain diuretics, mention this when you book so the imaging team can advise.
Diabetic patients who were given fasting and blood sugar instructions before an older PET scan do not need to manage their glucose differently for PSMA PET-CT. Eat and take your diabetes medicines as normal.
If you have previously had an allergic reaction to a radiotracer, mention it at booking. Reactions to PSMA tracers are uncommon, but your team needs to know your history before the injection.
Did you know?
FDG PET-CT requires fasting because glucose and FDG compete for entry into cells — food undermines the tracer signal entirely. PSMA PET-CT works on a completely different receptor, so food has no effect on image quality.
This distinction matters in practice: patients who fast unnecessarily for a PSMA scan often arrive dehydrated, which reduces image quality rather than improving it.
Source: EANM Procedure Guideline for PSMA-ligand PET imaging
CION does PET-CT in Hyderabad from Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in the city — including an oncologist-reviewed report and a free Rs 950 consultation. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I really not need to fast for a PSMA PET-CT?
You do not need to fast. PSMA PET-CT uses a tracer that targets a protein on prostate cancer cells, not glucose metabolism, so food has no effect on the scan. If an older instruction sheet told you to fast, it was likely written for an FDG PET scan. Eat normally before you come in, and if anything, drink more water than usual.
Can I take my hormone therapy or other cancer medicines before the scan?
Yes. Continue your androgen deprivation therapy and any other cancer medicines as prescribed. Hormone therapy does affect PSMA expression on tumour cells, and your oncologist knows this and takes it into account when ordering and reading the scan. Do not stop it unless your oncologist specifically tells you to. For all other routine medicines — blood pressure, diabetes, heart — take them as normal with water before you leave home.
How long will I be at the imaging centre?
Plan for approximately two hours in total. The tracer injection is quick, followed by about an hour of resting while the tracer distributes. The scan itself takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes. Arrival, registration and the time after the scan bring the total to around two hours. Your specific booking may vary slightly — the imaging centre will confirm the timing when you book.
Will I feel anything during the injection or the scan?
The tracer injection feels the same as any cannula — a brief pinch when it goes in. Most people feel nothing from the tracer itself; occasionally there is a mild warmth that passes within seconds. The scan is completely painless. You lie on a table that moves through the scanner slowly. Unlike an MRI, there is no loud noise, and the scanner is open on both sides, which most people find less stressful than they expected.
Is it safe to be around my family after the scan?
Yes, with one small precaution for the first few hours. The tracer contains a short-lived radioactive element that clears through your urine. After the scan, drink extra water and avoid prolonged, close contact — sitting next to someone for several hours — with pregnant women and young children for the rest of the day. Normal household activity, including hugging, is fine. By the following morning the tracer will have effectively cleared from your body.
What does a PSMA PET-CT cost and how is booking confirmed?
The indicative cost through CION partner imaging centres is in the range of ₹23,999 as of 2026; confirm the exact figure at the time of booking as prices may vary. When you book, the team confirms both the appointment slot and tracer availability. PSMA tracers have a short half-life and are produced at specialised facilities, so supply is checked per booking rather than assumed. If a batch is delayed, the centre will contact you before you travel. Do not travel without having spoken to the booking team to confirm your slot.