For Patients · PET/CT · FDG
FDG PET/CT
Metabolism,
made visible.
FDG is a radioactive form of glucose. Because many abnormal cell types — including most cancers — consume glucose at a higher rate than surrounding healthy tissue, FDG tends to accumulate in those areas, allowing your medical team to identify regions of high metabolic activity.
Fasting before
Tracer uptake
Scan time
Total visit
Who it is for
When an FDG scan is ordered.
FDG is the most widely used PET tracer. Your physician may order it in several situations:
Showing where a known cancer is active before treatment is planned.
Checking whether cancer has returned after treatment.
Comparing scans before and after therapy to see if it is working.
Locating areas of unusual metabolic activity when the cause is unclear.
Am I a candidate
Is this scan right for me?
FDG PET/CT follows the body’s sugar use, which is higher in many cancers and in active inflammation. It is a broad, versatile scan — your physician decides when it is the right tool.
Most scans need a requisition from your physician or nurse practitioner. Speak to them about a referral — and if it helps, bring the form with you.
01
You have a known or suspected cancer that needs staging.
02
Your team needs to know whether a cancer has returned or responded to treatment.
03
A cause of inflammation or infection needs to be located.
04
A previous scan was inconclusive and more metabolic detail would help.
How it works
Following the body’s fuel.
FDG is a sugar molecule tagged with a tracer. The scan follows where that sugar goes — revealing the cells working hardest.
A small dose of FDG, a glucose analogue, is given through an IV line.
Cells with high metabolic demand take up more FDG than normal tissue.
The PET camera maps where the tracer has concentrated.
A CT scan pinpoints the precise anatomical location of each signal.
✓A low, carefully calculated tracer dose — cleared naturally within hours.
How to prepare
Before your appointment.
FDG imaging depends on stable blood sugar, so a little preparation matters. Our booking team tailors these instructions to you.
No food, chewing gum, lozenges, or caloric drinks for 4 to 6 hours before your appointment. Plain water is encouraged.
Drink plenty of water the day before and the morning of your exam.
You may be asked to follow a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. Our booking team will provide specifics.
If you have diabetes, specific instructions about insulin and blood-sugar management will be provided when you book.
Avoid strenuous physical activity for 24 hours before your scan.
[ IMAGE ]A patient resting calmly in a private uptake room
What to expect
An unhurried, guided visit.
When you arrive, a technologist will confirm your preparation, check your blood glucose, and place an intravenous line. The FDG tracer is then administered through the IV. You will rest quietly in a private uptake room for approximately 60 minutes while the tracer distributes through your body. The scan itself is painless, performed on a padded table that moves slowly through the scanner, and typically takes 15 to 25 minutes.
Step 01
Check-in, glucose check & IV line
Step 02
FDG tracer administered via IV
Step 03
Quiet rest in a private uptake room
about 60 minutes
Step 04
Painless scan on a padded table
about 15–25 minutes
Plan for approximately two to three hours total, from arrival to departure.
Results
When you get your results.
Your images are reviewed by our nuclear medicine specialist.
A signed report is delivered securely to your referring physician; for urgent cases we can share verbal findings the same day.
Your physician talks you through what the scan found and the next step.
Aftercare
After your scan.
This is a diagnostic scan, not a treatment, so there is very little to do afterwards. The small amount of sugar tracer clears from your body naturally within hours.
Drink plenty of water for the rest of the day to help clear the tracer through your urine.
You can eat, drive, and return to your usual activities right away.
As a courtesy, keep a little extra distance from pregnant people and infants for the rest of the day. Your team will confirm if any specific precaution applies to you.
Cost
What it costs.
Pricing on request
FDG PET/CT
We publish our prices up front. This service is quoted individually because the cost depends on the protocol your physician orders. Contact us and we will confirm the full cost, and any funding options, before you book.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is an FDG PET/CT painful?
No. The only physical part is a small injection through an IV line. The scan itself is painless.
Why do I need to control my blood sugar beforehand?
FDG competes with the sugar already in your blood. Fasting keeps your blood sugar stable so the tracer is taken up clearly by the tissues being studied.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. An FDG PET/CT requires a requisition from your physician or nurse practitioner. You can download the form above.
How long does the visit take?
Plan for about two hours. Most of that is the quiet uptake period after the injection; the scan itself takes roughly 20–30 minutes.
Is the radiation dose safe?
The tracer uses a small, carefully calculated amount of radioactivity, comparable to other nuclear-medicine scans. Your team weighs this against the diagnostic benefit.
Will my insurance cover it?
Initio is a private clinic, so the scan is paid directly. Many extended-health and international plans reimburse diagnostic imaging — we provide the documentation you need to claim.
Explore by tracer
Other PET/CT tracers.
Why Initio
Everything under one roof.
Your FDG scan and its reading happen under one roof, with tracers produced in our own in-house radiopharmacy and read by the same specialists who support your care team. Fewer hand-offs, faster answers.
Your physician’s referral is all you need to begin. Our booking team handles preparation and scheduling.
Prefer to talk first? Call +1 (604) 678-9274, email info@initiomedical.ca, or send us a message.
Looking at other PET/CT options? Back to PET/CT overview.