What happens at the scan centre
Your PET-CT Scan Day: — What Happens, Step by Step
A PET-CT scan feels unfamiliar if you have never had one — an injection you cannot feel working, then an hour in a reclining chair, then a scanner that moves slowly around you. Most of the two to three hours is quiet waiting, not scanning. Knowing what comes next makes each stage easier.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- The injection is not the scan — The tracer is given first, then you wait quietly for about an hour before scanning even starts.
- Most of the time is waiting — You rest in a chair while the tracer moves through your body. This is part of the process, not a delay.
- The machine does not touch you — You lie still on a flat table. The scanner ring moves slowly around you. Nothing presses on you.
- You can usually leave the same day — A PET-CT is an outpatient procedure. Most people go home once the radiographer confirms the images.
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A PET-CT takes two to three hours in total. You arrive, your blood sugar is checked, and a small tracer injection is given. Then you rest quietly for about an hour while it spreads. The scan itself takes around 20 to 30 minutes. You can usually leave once the radiographer confirms the images are complete.
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.
What is the tracer injection and why do you have to wait after it?
The tracer is called FDG — a form of glucose with a tiny amount of radioactivity attached. Cancer cells tend to take up glucose faster than healthy tissue, which is what makes them visible on the scan.
After the injection you are asked to rest quietly and avoid your phone. Moving around causes muscles and the brain to absorb the tracer as well, which makes the images harder to read.
The radioactivity is very low and leaves your body within hours. Drinking water after the scan helps clear it through your kidneys.
What happens at each stage of your scan day?
Arrival and check-in
You register and confirm your preparation — that you have fasted and avoided strenuous exercise the day before. Tell the team about any medicines you have taken, especially insulin or diabetes medicines.
Blood glucose check
A quick finger-prick test measures your blood sugar. If it is too high, the scan may need to be rescheduled, because raised glucose competes with the tracer and blurs the images. This matters most if you have diabetes.
Tracer injection
A small cannula is placed in your arm and the FDG tracer is injected through it. The whole process takes a few minutes. You may briefly feel warmth or a metallic taste — both pass quickly.
Quiet rest for around an hour
You sit or recline in a quiet, dimly lit room while the tracer spreads through your body. Stay still and avoid your phone. The room is kept cool — ask for a blanket if you need one. This wait is essential to the scan, not a delay.
The PET-CT scan
You lie on a flat table that moves slowly through a large, open ring-shaped scanner. You hear a gentle hum and the table pauses in short steps while images are taken. The scanning part usually takes around 20 to 30 minutes.
Images confirmed and you leave
The radiographer checks that the images are usable before you go. If any need to be repeated, they will tell you. Once satisfied, you are free to leave. Drink water on the way home to help flush the tracer.
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
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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
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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
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Dr. Vinay Mamidala
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What will you feel — and when should you tell the team?
| Sensation | When it happens | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Brief warmth or metallic taste | During or just after the injection | Normal — passes within minutes |
| Needing to pass urine | During the waiting period | Normal — the tracer passes through the kidneys |
| Feeling cold | Waiting room and scanner room | Normal — rooms are kept cool on purpose |
| Gentle humming and table movement | During the scan | Normal — the machine working as expected |
| Feeling enclosed or anxious | Inside the scanner ring | Common — tell the team before the scan if this concerns you |
| Rash, itching, or difficulty breathing | Any point after the injection | Tell the team immediately |
What to do before you arrive
- Fast for the number of hours your imaging centre advises — water is always allowed and encouraged
- Avoid strenuous exercise for the 24 hours before your appointment
- Skip caffeine on the morning of the scan
- Take your regular medicines unless your oncologist or the imaging team has said otherwise
- If you have diabetes, call the imaging centre before the day to ask about insulin timing and fasting
- Wear warm, loose, comfortable clothing — metal fastenings can interfere with the scan
- Bring your referral letter, your ID, and any previous scan reports you have been given
- Tell the team about implants, pacemakers, or recent surgery when you arrive
Did you know?
A PET-CT produces two sets of images at the same time — a PET image showing where cells are most metabolically active and a CT image showing anatomy — fused into a single picture.
This is what allows oncologists to distinguish active disease from scar tissue, which a CT scan alone cannot reliably do.
Source: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) patient guidance
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
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
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
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
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
Your next step
Talk to an oncologist about your scan
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long will the whole appointment take?
Allow two to three hours for the full appointment. The scan itself is much shorter — usually around 20 to 30 minutes — but most of the time is the uptake period, when you rest quietly after the injection while the tracer moves through your body. Appointments vary depending on the area being scanned and whether any images need to be repeated, so do not plan anything immediately afterwards.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes. A family member or friend can wait in the reception area while you are in the scanning room. They cannot be with you during the injection or the scan itself because of the low-level radioactivity from the tracer. Once the scan is done, they can accompany you home. If you are anxious about the procedure, having someone there for the journey helps.
Will I feel claustrophobic inside the scanner?
The PET-CT scanner is a wide, open ring — it is not a narrow enclosed tunnel like an MRI. Most people find it tolerable, even those who expected to feel anxious. If you have claustrophobia or worry about enclosed spaces, tell the imaging team when you book and again when you arrive. They can walk you through what you will see and feel before it starts, which usually helps. You can ask to stop at any point.
When will I get the results?
The images are read by a specialist who writes a report for your oncologist. How long that takes varies between centres and depends on how urgently the report is needed. Your oncologist will discuss the findings with you — at your next planned appointment, or sooner if the result is time-sensitive. Ask your team at CION when to expect the report so you are not left waiting without a timeline.
Is the radiation from a PET-CT safe?
The combined dose from the tracer and the CT component is low and within the range used for other diagnostic scans. The medical value of an accurate staging or response assessment result is considered to outweigh that exposure. The tracer clears naturally through your urine within a few hours — drinking water after the scan helps. If you have concerns, ask the imaging team to explain the dose before the scan starts.