Before your PET-CT scan
Why Your PET-CT Time — Cannot Be Changed
A PET-CT slot is not like an MRI or a blood test. The radioactive tracer prepared for your scan decays within hours. If you miss the window, the dose is gone — and so is your scan date.
Medically reviewed by Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy, Medical Oncologist, MBBS (Gold Medal) · DNB · DM (Medical Oncology, Gold Medal) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Physics, not policy — The tracer half-life is approximately two hours. Your dose cannot wait.
- Prepared specifically for you — The tracer is measured and timed for your slot. It cannot be redirected to another patient or another time.
- Fasting matters too — Your blood glucose must be in range at injection time — another reason the sequence cannot slide.
- One chance per slot — If the window closes, the next available appointment may be weeks away.
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Your PET-CT time is fixed because the radioactive tracer prepared for you decays within hours of being made. Once your slot passes, the dose is gone and the scan cannot go ahead that day. This is not a scheduling rule — it is physics. Arriving on time is the single most important thing you can do.
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.
What do you need to do before your PET-CT slot?
- Confirm your appointment 24 hours beforeCall the imaging centre the day before. If there is an equipment issue or any problem, you find out before you travel — not after.
- Leave home earlier than you think you need toBuild in time for traffic, parking, admission queues, and the fasting check on arrival. There is no buffer once the preparation clock starts.
- Fast as your team instructsYour blood glucose must be within the range the radiologist needs before the tracer is injected. Food or a sugary drink can make the images unreadable.
- Tell your team you are diabetic before the day of the scanDiabetes and insulin change your blood glucose in ways that need specific preparation. Mention it when you book, not on the morning of the scan.
- Wear loose clothing with no metalMetal causes artefacts on the images. Loose clothing makes it easier to position you correctly without introducing delays.
- Bring your referral letter and IDThe imaging centre needs both before they can proceed. A missing document is a delay you cannot afford at this appointment.
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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MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
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Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
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Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
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Dr. Vinay Mamidala
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Why is a PET-CT time fixed when other scans can be moved?
The tracer used in a PET scan — most commonly FDG, a radioactive form of glucose — has a physical half-life of approximately two hours. That means roughly half the radioactivity is gone every two hours, whether the scan has happened or not.
Your dose is prepared at a specific time, calibrated for your body weight, and timed so that when your uptake period is complete, the tracer is still radioactive enough to produce usable images. By that point, the window is already narrow.
An MRI or CT scan can be delayed by an hour without changing the result. A PET scan cannot. The images depend on the tracer still emitting detectable signals. Delay the scan and the signal is weaker. Delay it enough and the images are undiagnostic.
SNMMI and EANM protocols treat timing as a clinical variable, not an administrative one. Your slot is fixed for the same reason a surgery start time is fixed — the preparation is irreversible once it begins.
What happens if you arrive late or miss your slot?
If you arrive late, your tracer dose has already been prepared and is decaying. Whether the scan can still go ahead depends on how late you are and what the radiologist decides when they assess what remains.
In many cases, the scan cannot go ahead that day. The dose cannot be held over, and a fresh one cannot be produced on short notice. You will need to rebook.
The next available slot may be weeks away. For patients waiting on results that will guide a treatment decision, that wait has real consequences.
If something unavoidable happens — an accident, a medical emergency — call the imaging centre immediately rather than simply arriving late. An early call gives the team the best chance of adjusting the preparation or limiting what is wasted. Arriving without warning gives them nothing to work with.
Did you know?
The FDG tracer used in most PET scans has a physical half-life of approximately 110 minutes — meaning it loses roughly half its radioactivity in less time than a typical outpatient wait.
A dose produced at 7am is largely spent by midday. This is why PET centres run tight schedules and why your slot cannot absorb even small delays the way other imaging appointments can.
Source: European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) procedural guidelines for FDG PET/CT imaging
A whole-body PET-CT at CION is Rs 10,499 — among the lowest published prices in Hyderabad — with a free Rs 950 oncologist consultation to talk through your report. Indicative price, as of September 2026.
Explore 88 more Understanding PET-CT, Cost, Booking & Records topics
Booking, Access & District Logistics
- Booking Without a Doctor's Referral
- Booking a PET-CT for Someone Living Abroad
- Can You Get a PET-CT Scan Closer to Home?
- Getting an Urgent PET-CT Scan
- How Early Should You Arrive for Your Scan?
- How to Book a PET-CT Scan in Hyderabad
- PET-CT for Patients From Nalgonda and Suryapet
- PET-CT for Patients From North Andhra
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Karimnagar
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Khammam
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Nizamabad
- PET-CT for Patients Travelling From Warangal
- Rescheduling or Cancelling a PET-CT Scan
- What Happens If You Miss Your PET-CT Slot?
- Where to Stay Near a PET-CT Centre in Hyderabad
- Why PET-CT Slots Are Fixed and Cannot Be Moved
Choosing a PET-CT Centre & Quality
- AERB Approval and Radiation Safety Licensing
- Comparing Two Quotes: What Is Actually Different?
- Digital PET and Time-of-Flight: What They Actually Change
- Do You Need to Go to the Same Centre for Follow-Up Scans?
- Does an Oncologist-Reviewed Report Actually Help?
- Does the PET-CT Scanner Model Matter?
- Getting a PET-CT at a Government Hospital in Telangana
- How to Choose a PET-CT Centre in Hyderabad
- Questions to Ask a PET-CT Centre Before Booking
- Red Flags When Choosing a Scan Centre
- Same-Day and Walk-In PET-CT Appointments
- Standalone Diagnostic Lab vs a Cancer Centre
- The Four PET-CT Centres in Hyderabad: Which Is Nearest?
- What Makes a PET-CT Report Good?
- What to Do If You Are Unhappy With Your Scan or Report
- Who Reads Your Scan Matters More Than the Machine
PET-CT Cost, Insurance & Schemes
- Ayushman Bharat, CGHS and EHS Coverage for PET-CT
- Cashless vs Reimbursement for a PET-CT Scan
- Comparing PET-CT Quotes: A Checklist Before You Pay
- Does a Cheaper PET-CT Mean a Worse Scan?
- EMI and Payment Options for a PET-CT Scan
- Free and Subsidised PET-CT: Government Options and Waiting Times
- Hidden Charges in PET-CT Scans: What to Check Before You Book
- Is PET-CT Covered Under Aarogyasri?
- Is PET-CT Worth the Cost Compared With a CT Scan?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Covered by Health Insurance in India?
- PET-CT Cost for Non-Cancer Conditions
- PET-CT Cost vs CT, MRI and Bone Scan in Hyderabad
- PET-CT Scan Cost in Hyderabad: The Full Price List
- PSMA, DOTATATE and FAPI PET-CT Costs in Hyderabad
- Paying for a PET-CT Scan From Abroad
- Planning the Cost of Your Cancer Diagnostics
- Repeat PET-CT Scans: What Each Follow-Up Costs
- Value for Money vs Deep Detect: Which PET-CT Should You Choose?
- What Does the Free Consultation With Your Scan Include?
- What Is Included in a PET-CT Scan Price — and What Is Not
- Why Do PET-CT Prices Vary So Much Between Centres?
- Why PET-CT Insurance Claims Get Rejected
Reports, Records & Second Opinions
- Comparing a New Scan With Your Previous One
- Do You Need a Repeat Scan or Just a Re-Read?
- Errors and Corrections in Scan Reports
- Getting a Second Opinion on Your PET-CT Report
- How to Get a Digital Copy of Your PET-CT Images
- Keeping Your Scan Records for the Long Term
- Sharing Your Scan With a Doctor Abroad
- Taking Your PET-CT Report to Another Hospital
- Understanding the Nuclear Medicine Specialist's Role
- What You Receive: Report, Images, CD and DICOM
- What to Do If the Report Says Something You Do Not Understand
- When Is a Second Opinion on a Scan Worth It?
- When Will You Get Your PET-CT Report?
- Why Two Reports on the Same Scan Can Differ
Understanding PET-CT & When It Is Needed
- Can a PET-CT Scan Be Normal and Cancer Still Be Present?
- Can a PET-CT Scan Detect Cancer Anywhere in the Body?
- Do You Need a Biopsy If the PET-CT Is Positive?
- Do You Need a Doctor's Referral for a PET-CT Scan?
- Does a PET-CT Scan Mean I Have Cancer?
- How Accurate Is a PET-CT Scan?
- How Long Does It Take to Get a PET-CT Appointment?
- Is a PET-CT Scan Useful for Cancer Screening in a Healthy Person?
- PET-CT Scan Terminology: A Plain-English Glossary
- PET-CT When the Primary Cancer Cannot Be Found
- PET-CT for Staging: Working Out How Far Cancer Has Spread
- PET-CT to Check Whether Treatment Is Working
- PET-CT to Look for Cancer Coming Back
- Questions to Ask Before Booking a PET-CT Scan
- What Can a PET-CT Scan Detect — and What It Cannot
- What Is a PET-CT Scan and How Does It Work?
- What Is a Radiotracer and Which One Will I Be Given?
- Who Should Not Have a PET-CT Scan?
- Whole-Body PET-CT vs a Limited or Regional Scan
- Why Has My Doctor Ordered a PET-CT Scan?
Your next step
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I call and move my PET-CT to a different time on the same day?
In almost all cases, no. Your tracer dose is prepared to arrive at the scanner at a specific time, and that preparation begins hours before your appointment. It cannot be redirected to a different slot once it has started. If you need to change your time, contact the imaging centre as early as possible — ideally days before, not hours. Same-day changes almost always result in a lost dose and a new booking date.
What if I am stuck in traffic and going to be late?
Call the imaging centre the moment you know you will be late — not when you arrive. An early call gives the radiologist information to work with. They may be able to adjust the preparation sequence slightly, or they can stop it early so the dose is not wasted entirely. Arriving without warning and then explaining gives the team no options at all. Save the imaging centre's number in your phone before you leave home.
Why do I have to fast before a PET scan but not before an MRI?
PET scans using FDG — a radioactive glucose — depend on your cells absorbing the tracer in a predictable pattern. If your blood glucose is elevated from food, tissue absorbs the tracer differently and the images become harder to read or unreadable. MRI does not use a tracer that competes with glucose, so fasting is usually not required. Your team will tell you exactly how long to fast and whether you may take your regular medicines beforehand.
I am diabetic. How do I prepare for a PET scan?
Diabetic patients need preparation that differs depending on whether they are on oral medication or insulin, and the imaging centre needs to know before your appointment — not on the day. Do not assume the standard fasting guidance applies to you. Call when you book and ask specifically about diabetes management for PET scans. Your endocrinologist may also need to be involved in planning, so raise it early and give everyone enough time to coordinate.
Will CION book my PET-CT slot for me?
Yes. CION coordinates PET-CT bookings with partner imaging centres on your behalf. The scan takes place at the imaging centre, not at a CION clinic, but your CION team arranges the referral and the appointment. When you receive your slot, confirm the exact address of the imaging centre — it may not be at the same location as your oncology clinic — and confirm how long before your scan time you are expected to arrive.
How far in advance should I book a PET-CT scan?
Book as soon as your oncologist requests the scan. PET-CT slots are limited, and in many cities the wait for a convenient appointment is longer than patients expect. Booking immediately after your consultation gives you the most choice of dates and avoids delaying your treatment plan while you wait for availability. Do not wait to see if your schedule clears — a slot you decline today may not reappear for weeks.