← All services · X-ray, CT, MRI
PET-CT scan
PET-CT · PET scan · PET CT scan · full body PET scan
A small amount of radioactive sugar is given into a vein. The scanner shows where cells take it up most actively and combines this with a CT image.
Most often for cancer: to find affected areas, see how far it has spread, and check how treatment is working.
⏱ Duration: usually 2 to 3 hours at the center; the scan itself takes 15 to 30 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Fasting. Usually no food for 4 to 6 hours. Only plain water without sugar. No chewing gum or sweets.
- The day before. For 24 hours, avoid hard exercise and physical work. You are often advised to eat fewer sweets and less bread and pasta. Your clinic will tell you more.
- Diabetes. Your blood sugar should be normal. The doctor decides how to take your medicines that day.
- Clothes. Warm and comfortable, with no metal.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your ID
- Past CT, MRI, or PET images on a disc, and reports
- Your treatment records
How it goes
- Your blood sugar is checked
- An IV is put into a vein and the tracer is given
- For about an hour you sit or lie calmly in a quiet room: no talking, reading, or walking
- Go to the toilet before the scan
- You lie on the table, and it slowly moves through the scanner ring
- Lie still for 15 to 30 minutes
What you'll feel
- You do not feel the tracer going in
- The scanner is not as loud as an MRI
- If contrast is given, you may feel a wave of warmth through your body
Afterwards
- Drink more water for the rest of the day. The tracer leaves faster with urine
- You can usually eat right away
- For a few hours, stay away from pregnant women and small children. Your clinic will tell you for how long
- The report is usually ready in 1 to 3 days
Contact a doctor straight away if
- After the injection: a rash, a swollen face, or trouble breathing. Tell the staff right away or call emergency services
Common questions
Is the radiation from PET-CT dangerous?
The dose is small and leaves the body quickly. The doctor orders the scan when the benefit is greater than the risk.
Why can't I eat before a PET-CT?
The tracer is a form of sugar. If you have eaten, your blood sugar is high and the images will be worse.