PET-CT Scan Preparations

Please notify our staff if the patient is physically challenged, or if a wheelchair or wheel bed is necessary.
Please avoid any Barium exams within 10 days prior to the examination.
Fasting for at least 6 hours before the examination, except water.
One day before examination, please eat bland and easily digestible food.
One day before examination, drink 6-8 glasses of water to ensure enough hydration of the body.
It is recommended that the blood glucose reading is at 10mmol/L or below to perform PET-CT.
For diabetic patients, do not take diabetes drugs or insulin injections during fasting. Please bring along the drugs to the centre.

A normal renal function is required.
Withhold Metformin (e.g. Glucophage) 24 hours before and 48 hours after the examination.
Please inform our staff at least 2 days before the examination if the patient has any allergy to previous contrast administration. Oral steroid (Prednisolone 40mg to be taken 12 hours and 2 hours before examination) should be prescribed by the referring doctor or our centre. In special cases, intravenous hydrocortisone will be administered at the time of the examination at an additional cost.

The whole examination lasts about 2 – 2.5 hours.
It starts with a simple interview by our clinic staff.
The patient’s blood glucose level will then be tested.
The applicable radioactive isotope will be injected.
After injection, the patient will rest alone for about one hour to facilitate drug metabolism and absorption.
The scan will then take place for about 10-15 minutes.
When the scan is completed, the patient will rest for another 1-1.5 hours to allow the decay and further metabolism of the drug. Delayed scans may be performed if necessary.