Tag: Pet scan diet

According to MD Anderson Cancer Center, eating or drinking anything with calories other than water in the six hours before a PET scan can affect the results and may require a repeat scan. The preparation is critical because the scan uses a radioactive sugar tracer, called FDG, to detect metabolic activity in tissues and organs.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans use a radioactive tracer made from a glucose analog, and studies show that elevated blood glucose levels can significantly reduce image quality. For this reason, medical professionals advise against eating sweet potatoes and other high-carbohydrate foods before a PET scan.